Real Estate

Window Tint Benefits: What You Should Know

A thin sheet of film that is transparent is applied to your car windows in this simple procedure. There are many benefits to having windows on your car or truck. The film thickness varies from 0.001 to 0.004 inches and is made of a different material. Window tinting can also create hazards, especially for drivers at night. To ensure safety, many jurisdictions have enforced laws that rely on the darkness of polarized film. For example, in Arkansas, the tint limit is twenty-five percent, but in New Jersey it’s seventy percent.

The three ways to tint windows include

• Film Tint – This is an inexpensive and easy way to tint windows. The film applied to your window glass is found in different shades such as metallic, mirrored, and flat. Some experts in the automotive field say that this type of window tinting can help prevent window glass from breaking in a car accident. Although this may be true, it is generally useful during the first few months of applications. This is because the window tint file can easily peel or crack.

• OEM Tinted Glass – With this type of window tint, the tint is added when the glass is prepared rather than applied to the window. This type has a tint that is lighter and can be expensive to replace.

• Coated Tint – In this technique a distinctive solution is applied to the window surface. It is often used as a spray. When tinting your windows, this is the most effective way. It should only be done by an expert, as it is a difficult process to apply.

Benefits of window tinting

• Better driving – If the sun hits your face while driving, it can be a nuisance, but it can also be deadly. Having your windshield tinted will prevent glare from extreme sunlight and help protect your eyes.

• Privacy: Not only does it offer some protection by keeping people from looking into your car, but it also protects things inside your car from being seen by other people when you’re not around. You won’t need to keep your valuables in the trunk to protect them from theft.

• Protects your car’s upholstery: UV rays and heat from direct sunlight can help keep your car’s interior from getting so hot that it cracks, discolors or warps your car’s plastic dashboard and other plastics. It also blocks up to 90% of harmful UV rays.

• Stay cool — having the correct window tint can help reduce the heat inside your car in the summer by up to 60%.

• Stay healthy: Window tint can reduce the amount of UV rays, which can cause skin cancer.

Real Estate

Real Estate Development – What is a right and why do I need it to build?

What is a right?

The definition of right with respect to land development is the legal method of obtaining approvals for the right to develop property for a particular use. The entitlement process is complicated, time consuming and can be expensive, but knowing what you can and cannot do with a property is vital to determining the real estate viability of your project. Some examples of rights are the following:

Examples of rights:

1. Zoning and zoning variances for building heights, number of parking spaces, setbacks. Your land use attorneys and zoning experts come into play here. My advice is to place a lot of trust in his experience and follow his instructions to avoid unnecessary delays in your approval process.

2. Rezoning. Depending on the current permitted use for the property, you may need to rezone the site, which is a complicated process and sometimes cannot be done.

3 Use Permits. You may need to obtain conditional use permits and this goes hand in hand with zoning and zoning variances.

4. Road approvals. Do you need to put on existing roads? Who maintains the roads? Are there shared paths through easements? These are all questions that you need to have the answers to and be prepared to comply with in the regulatory process.

5 Utility Approvals. Are there utilities available for the site? Do you need to donate land to the city in exchange for utility rights? Again, you will need to comply with municipal rules and regulations.

6. Landscaping Approvals. City planning and development agencies must also approve its design and landscaping. Your architect and engineers will be of great help in this area.

Hire an experienced development team:

The best advice is to hire an experienced development team of architects, developers, lawyers, project consultants, engineers, and civil, soil, landscape, and structural consultants from the outset to help you analyze, review, interpret, and advise you regarding the studies. design, applicable zoning. and code requirements, and the maximum development potential of the property. Without an experienced team, it is extremely difficult and a lot of time will be wasted trying to complete the regulatory process because the very nature of the regulatory process is so complicated.

This is how the process works. First, remember to keep in mind that the process is very slow and frustrating and can take anywhere from 3-12 months or sometimes years depending on how complicated the project is. Part of the reason is that each developer has different interpretations of the local rules for him. Today, approvals involve overlapping jurisdictions, such as city, county, and state, and these jurisdictions do not communicate with each other. It is extremely crucial that you establish good working relationships with these planners in order to get their approval. Again, this is why you need to work with a development team that has already established these relationships with local staff from the local jurisdiction where your property will be developed. These relationships will expedite and help speed up your approval process. Their experienced team of experts will be able to negotiate the issues for you and weed out additional requests from the local jurisdiction to avoid further delays in getting your approvals.

regulatory process:

Most development projects must go through certain aspects of the rights grant process, and some projects will have to go through various public hearing processes for approval, depending on the rules of each jurisdiction. To begin, commercial land development requires review and approval by the local Development Review Board or the Review Division of the Planning Department. Each municipality has a different name but the functions are similar.

  1. The process begins with obtaining site approval from the local Department of Planning and Development. By contacting the local Department of Planning and Development’s Review Division, their team of experts will develop a pre-application for land use that is compliant with the codes of that particular jurisdiction. By complying with the codes, this will eliminate additional requests by the jurisdiction, additional review and extension, and unnecessary delays from the approval process.
  2. A meeting date will then be set. You and/or your representatives will meet with the Planning Department to discuss the proposed project and the review process. The process includes approval of the site plan, elevations, colors, landscaping, neighborhood map, etc. Environmental information must also be submitted. There is usually a fee that accompanies the application. Fees vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
  3. If for any reason your site plan is denied, you can appeal to City Hall. The appeal process varies from each jurisdiction.
  4. Once you get site approval, you’ll need design approval and master use permits. The design approval process is where your architect will design the building structure, core layout, exterior appearance, building height, site design, landscaping concepts, traffic impact, site access, and utility designs and submit them for approval.
  5. Neighborhood hearings are generally required for all general plan conditional use permits. You may be required to provide written notice or post information on the site. Typically, the City will also send out notices to residents. Signs must be posted on the property and an open house is usually held. Your development team will be instrumental in advising and assisting you so that you have a higher chance of success in gaining neighborhood approval. Be prepared, even if you comply with the codes and regulations of the regulatory process, there is always the possibility that the neighborhood has its own agenda and that the hearings and decisions will not be favorable to moving your project forward. This is where the experience and involvement of your lawyers and the rest of your development team is crucial.

If there are wetlands on the property, you will need special documentation indicating whether or not the Wetlands Act applies. Doing so will result in a significant or insignificant impact as granted by the evidence of a permit. Sometimes it is better to set aside or donate the wetland portion of the property and avoid development problems. Your development team will be able to help you with the best course of action once they have evaluated all the information and reviewed the reports.

Real Estate

Why choose a semi-inground pool?

Have you ever imagined spending a perfect summer day with your friends and family enjoying a garden party? Although expensive, what you would love to have is a swimming pool to make it even better. One way to avoid the whole expense problem is to install a semi-inground pool instead of an in-ground pool.

The main difference between these pools is that a semi-buried pool is not built directly into the ground. Instead, they only settle halfway down, making them almost as attractive as buried. But there are other advantages besides being much cheaper than an inground pool. The time it takes to install one is much less.

By comparison, a fully in-ground pool needs a lot more work to remove dirt and installation. The cost of labor can skyrocket, especially when you hire specialized contractors. This is because professional equipment, machinery and knowledge are often needed. After all, if you’re going to spend thousands of dollars on a pool, you want it built right. The beauty of a semi-buried installation is that anyone with some DIY skills can install one. You can even find pool kits on the market that require very little time and work to install.

It is quite a common stereotype to think that only people with a lot of money can afford to have their own pool. The fact is, you don’t need to be incredibly wealthy to enjoy your own beautiful pool at your residence during the summer months. These types of pools are very affordable and can even cost less than half of a completely in-ground pool.

Another benefit of most modern semi-inground pools is that they are made of reinforced aluminum, which makes them excellent against corrosion and high pressures. Also, pool manufacturers often offer customers a long warranty on their pools, giving you peace of mind.

Surprisingly, even if you want a cover around your pool, it’s not a problem. Even semi-buried pools can come with a platform or give the option of installing one. Adding a deck can give the impression of having an inground pool and make it easier to get in and out. A terrace will also give you space to sit poolside and watch your family enjoy the pool on a hot summer day. With so many benefits of a semi-inground pool, it’s no surprise that more and more people are investing in this cost-effective option for their own pool.

Real Estate

The 7 things not to do when remodeling the home

Have you been thinking about working on a home remodeling project? If so, you may benefit from some expert advice. Without some important tips in mind, you may end up damaging something in your house. In some cases, you may even get hurt in the process. Below are some home remodeling don’ts to help you head in the right direction.

1. Don’t delay

Make sure you make your decisions before you start the project. This will help you avoid unnecessary delays. In reality, most decisions involve things like faucet selection, trim, and paint. They may seem tiny, but if you don’t get the faucet on time, you may need to reschedule your plumbers. Therefore, you need to make your decision on time.

2. Don’t change your mind too often.

Once you’ve made a decision about something, you should stick with it. However, you have to change your mind later. But keep in mind that changing your decision will increase the cost of the estimate. You will have to spend money to make the necessary changes. You can include new things you need to buy and the fee you need to pay to professionals.

3. Do not buy the required things yourself

While this may seem like a great way to save a lot of money, you shouldn’t go for this option. The builder can get a much better price than you when it comes to purchasing materials. Therefore, you may not want to make the mistake of buying the necessary things yourself.

4. Do not allow your children or pets in the workplace

Workers will be careful while working so that no children or pets get hurt. But it is better if you keep your pets and children a little away from the workplace. Having children around the construction area is not a good idea.

5. Do not stay in the same house

We suggest you rent a house to live while the renovation work lasts. Renovating costs a lot of money and moving can add to the cost. However, if you cannot move to another home, you may stay out of the area of ​​your home where workers are working.

6. Do not cause distractions

You must not continue to talk to workers while they are busy doing their jobs. This can distract workers from their jobs. And in the worst case, they can end up damaging something very expensive or important.

7. Do not run out of design

Working on a project without a solid design is not a good idea. Some projects may require the services of a skilled architect, designer or builder. Therefore, you need to hire the services of the right professional to get the job done the right way.

Therefore, whenever you start working on a home renovation project, we suggest you keep these expert tips in mind. Hopefully, you won’t end up hurting yourself or damaging anything in the process.

Real Estate

Fail Your Way To Success: Donald Trump, Thomas Edison, and Ellen DeGeneres ALL agree!

As I have interviewed and researched serial entrepreneurs like Andy Kurtzig*founder of JustAnswers(r)I’ve learned that really everyone shares a couple of key personality traits. They also usually have immediate family members who had these same abilities. We’ll avoid the breeding or nature debate at this point, as it’s not relevant how they get these abilities as much as it’s important to understand that they have these traits. Let’s look at some of the quotes that are some of my favorites and then break them down to produce the top three traits that successful people possess. And the final question is: “Can you achieve these traits, or even more, do you already possess them?”

Here are my favorite quotes about success and failure…

1) “The phoenix must burn to emerge.” -Janet Fitch

2) “What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate.” -Donald J. Trump

3) “It’s a problem, not a catastrophe.” -Donald J. Trump

4) “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change could be” – John Wooden

5) “Only those who dare to fail a lot can achieve something great.” -Robert F. Kennedy

6) “While you’re going to think anyway, think big.” -Donald J. Trump

7) “It is failure that gives you the proper perspective of success.” – Ellen Degeneres

8) “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: what counts is the courage to continue.” -Winston Churchill

No one in their right mind would take all these names from science, real estate, entertainment, wartime leader and say they have something in common. They would be wrong. There are three common themes running through all of these statements that I completely agree with with my conclusions after more than a decade of interviewing and researching people with the three attributes of success.

What are these three attributes…

1) Drive. Even in the face of almost certain defeat, the basketball player wants those last three points on the board. The wartime general will keep the city in early and certain defeat. A TV host like Ellen, etc. he has the drive to get up in the morning and perform some local show, or his first stand at a low-end bar and have the drive to keep going.

2) Optimism. Regarding the point of the number “1” above. This leader or cheerleader has to believe in their own minds that they will get better. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not a train! It’s also what I call the evolutionary part of the success formula. You are optimistic that you can fix or evolve your strategy and still succeed later.

3) Great Thinker. Again, without the number “1” and the number “2” this attribute cannot exist. If you’re going to build a ten-unit apartment building, why not 500? If you can make 50 people laugh at the bar, why not a million? If you can take a bridge or a city, why not all of them?

In short, my quote that I derive from all my research is “Fail, evolve and keep going!”

I read an article on failing recently written by one of my LinkedIn(r) contacts who describes herself as “Deborah/Hodges” and she wrote an article titled “When Is It OK to Fail?” In this article, she describes what I call the evolution part of my earlier quote when she wrote this: “But was it a flop? On paper, yes. For me personally though, it was a huge success. I’m still a bit upset that I didn’t.” t do more in terms of street uptake…”

Therefore, to be successful in any undertaking, on TV, as a leader, or as a normal older person, you either have these traits from your childhood or you spend the better part of a decade training yourself to possess these traits. I propose that every person, whether they are mentally challenged, their local mechanic, a pizza parlor owner, or ANYONE on this planet, can be successful by “failing, evolving, and moving on.”

PS: Good luck my partner”successors“! * Andy Kurtzig did not approve of, and is not aware of, this article. Ellen, Churchill and Trump did! Just kidding!

Real Estate

The correct Fahrenheit in Jamaica

DJ Don Flash named it ‘Fahrenheit’ and sure enough, it always seems to be at the right temperature, tempo and whatnot. Terrence Harold, of Jamaican soil also known as “Farenizzi”, employs his many talents to expose Jamaica, its people, culture and skills to the world.

An artist in general, he is an international ambassador for Jamaican arts and culture, as through whatever form he chooses – painting, graphic design, silky smooth vocals, music, acting, production as headlines – he never ceases to express all that is Jamaican. . The prolific artist is equally skilled as a musician, singer, actor, and graphic designer, unknown to many.

Born in Kingston, Harold has always loved the arts, and his humbleness and temperate personality reflect the result of someone who is intimately connected to many forms. “As a kid, I loved Caribbean music,” recalls Harold. He always appreciated the work of master painter Barrington Watson.

Terrence ‘Fahrenheit’ Harold Born in the 1970s to a mother from Portland and a father from St. Vincent, Harold grew up in Kingston. This resulting combination of culture provided much influence on his career, which he was already shaping up during his youth.

Growing up, he listened to music like Jesus Christ, the superstar, Toots, Dennis Brown. At the same time, her visual palette was being influenced by Barrington Watson influences. Additionally, she had an interest in music and dance while being part of a breakdancer group with Savage’s team at Wolmers High. Back then, Savage’s team belonged to the music school that was next door to the art school.

She later studied graphic design at Edna Manley College, then the Jamaica School of Art. In addition to exploring sculpture and painting, she received vocal training from Cuban teacher Gorgia Guerra. Guerra has lived in Jamaica for over 20 years and has trained artists such as Baby Cham, Alaine, Swade, Christopher Martin, Brian and Tony Gold.

However, the main contributors to his development have been his parents, who exposed him to a wide range of music to listen to, including Latin music, rock and reggae. Although he possesses good social skills and ‘connections’, his life as the multifaceted artist that he is began with a struggle, after Edna Manley College, simply due to his fusion of hardcore dancehall with other musical forms.

Now successful in the combined visual and performing arts, exemplary to many others, he says that passion is what mainly explains his success. Balancing participation in the visual, literary, and scenic is not difficult for the artist who uses both the left and right sides of his brain. Not to mention those voices that play seductive melodies on your inner being like a piano. It encourages artists to stay engaged, considering their own challenges they face on their way to the top. Remember, for example, the many requests that he submitted to the theater. Harold’s early stage work was David Herron’s ‘Redemption’ and ‘Against his Will’. He has also done Dirty Diana on Centrestage.

Later, he moved to television, landing a role in Royal Palm Estate (Produced by Mediamixx 2003-2004). His international roles extended to Almost Heaven (German film-ed howzing). Interestingly, Terrence was a gimmick for Kymani. He did the double in One Love and co-starred in Goat Head (produced by Paul Bucknor). He has a role in the upcoming Better Mus Come, a Storm Saulter film production coming out soon.

Fahrenheit CD Cover His background in graphics is balanced by his music, as he designs all of his CD covers and for a few other artists. His works include logos, for example, Brand New Machine (his latest project), Lottery Company 2003, Markham Betting 2000.

Some CDs designed by him are Fringe to Fore 1999, Port Antonio Virgin 2007 and the next Red Cup College release scheduled for 2010. Music is perhaps where he is most successful, or popularly known as a rock/reggae musician and singer.

His first song was recorded by the team Dr. Paul de Ruff Cut, of the band Shabba Ranks. Of the songs that he has produced for himself are Looga Man, Kid Kurup, Jovi Rockwell. He has also been featured on some of internationally acclaimed singer Sean Paul’s songs, such as Bubble, a ringtone created for mobile phones.

Harold considers the combined arts to be crucial for the development of society. He is of the opinion that “as a nation we need to support the art form in schools.” The passionate artist blames the lack of music classes or sessions in high schools as a big problem.

Harold’s latest project is Brand New Machine, which began in December of last year. Brand New Machine, co-hosted with Steve Wilson every Wednesday, features a different theme for bosses at Fiction Lounge. Fashionista exposes local designers; Papparatzi’s Birthday Celebration for Celebrities; Red cups+lollypops is for the spirrrpy party frenzy. Then there are exhibitions to showcase local visual artists, including painters, photographers, and literary writers.

To the young man, Harold’s advice is: “Stay focused; stay true to your art form and remain passionate: don’t get discouraged when you’re broke… some things will pay off if you’re real with them.”

Real Estate

Emergency tree removal

It’s a fact, dangerous weather conditions can cause trees to fall and create extremely dangerous situations. For this reason, declining trees that cannot be saved or dead trees in the vicinity of residential properties must be removed before a windstorm can topple them. Every year a significant number of trees fall on houses, cars, buildings, structures, power lines, etc. Many homeowners faced with the unfortunate occurrence of a tree falling and damaging their property are frantic and don’t know what to do. They think, um…

  • Is this covered by my insurance company?
  • Is this my neighbor’s tree or mine?
  • If my tree falls on my neighbor’s yard, am I responsible for the damage?
  • What about damage to my property? Am I covered?
  • Is there a local tree service immediately available to remove the large tree that fell on my house?
  • How long does it take to fix the assembly on my roof?
  • Who is responsible for fixing everything on my roof, and at whose expense?

These are all very good and common questions that arise during an emergency situation. In most cases, an insurance company is responsible for paying the bill for emergency tree removal. That is, if a tree falls on a structure such as a house, a shed, a fence, or a car. This is usually when a homeowner should contact their insurance company for help. Insurance companies have preferred provider lists from local tree companies to provide to the homeowner. The homeowner will call for a free estimate to get the job done. In some cases, when a tree falls on a home, an insurance company will provide the homeowner with a general contractor who will handle all aspects of the repair, including finding a tree repair service. In some cases, if a home is located in an HOA, the association representative will handle the situation. Most of the time, this burden falls on the homeowner, and usually the forestry company that responds the fastest and has the ability to get the job done the quickest is given the task. Often, if a tree falls on the roof of a house, a crane is required to help make the removal. Tree companies with a fully staffed crane operator and their own crane are best suited for this type of tree removal.

If a tree falls through a house, the job is usually done within hours of the occurrence, unless it’s pouring with rain at 3am when it’s dark outside. In this case, a tarp is usually placed on the house, or the part of the house that was damaged is locked up overnight until daylight. The estimation and emergency tree work is complete by the time the sun rises that morning. It is much safer to perform emergency tree removals during the day. There are many emergency tree removal scenarios, and local tree removal companies are immediately available to the customer. Once a downed tree is removed from a home, a contractor will fix it up and enclose everything in the roof. Repair to the roof assembly is completed by a different contractor and is separate from tree removal.

So what if it was my neighbor’s tree that fell on my house, then who is responsible? This can be a risky situation as the neighbors want to maintain a good relationship with each other. Technically, any part of a tree that has fallen on someone’s property is that person’s responsibility. Therefore, it doesn’t matter whose tree it originally was when it was standing. There is a scenario where your neighbor could be liable if it was originally her tree to begin with. That is, if the neighbor was negligent and refused or refused to remove a dangerous tree from her property after being told to do so. So the load can possibly fall on them. The property on which a fallen tree rests generally determines who is responsible for cleanup.

To carry out an operation as complicated as emergency tree work, tree services must have the right experience and equipment. There have been many times when large storms hit the DC metropolitan area and caused significant damage to trees. The tree service industry is known to be one of the most dangerous in the world. Hiring a licensed and fully insured professional tree service is an absolute must. Lives are lost and significant injuries occur every day in the tree service business. It is a priority to hire a reputable, experienced and well-equipped company that can complete the job safely.

JL Tree Service – Tree removal

Real Estate

7 Ways to Avoid War with Your Landlord

1. Do not make any changes without informing the landlord

This must be specified in your lease, but you are generally not allowed to make major changes to the property on your own initiative without informing the landlord. This also applies to energy, water and internet providers. If you feel you need to switch because another provider offers better rates and would benefit your finances, you can discuss this with the agent or property owner, who in most cases would not mind as long as you go back to the original provider first. you leave the property.

You may not change or remove any of the appliances that were already in the property without consulting the landlord. If you do, you may lose part or all of your deposit. However, you can move furniture around the property if you wish and you do not have to inform the owner for that. It is very important to put everything back where it was at the end of your tenancy.

2. Don’t lie about having pets or children.

It is true that it is much more difficult to rent a place if you have pets or children, but you cannot use this as an excuse to lie to your agent or landlord until you sign the contract. Remember that your lease is a binding legal document and lists all the people (and/or animals) that may live in the property. If it later comes to light that you moved in with pets or children without seeking your landlord’s approval, your lease may be terminated and you may be evicted. It is a myth that no one can kick you out of a property if you have children. It can take a couple of months to get a court order, but at the end of the day, the landlord has the legal right to remove you from their property if you break the contract.

3. Do not sublet

It is a crime to sublet property that is not yours unless specifically agreed to with the landlord or permitted in your lease.

4. Maintain Good Order and State of the Property

While you live in the property, you are responsible for its general upkeep. This means, keep it tidy, clean it regularly to avoid pest infestation, do not damage walls, carpets, curtains and any furniture and appliances that do not belong to you. Most people have no problem doing chores on their own, but for busy people it may be worth considering hiring a professional house cleaning service just to avoid a potential war with your landlord over poor house maintenance. property.

5. Do not disturb the neighbors

If you are someone who likes to have regular house parties and constantly disturb the neighbors, that can get you in trouble not only with your landlord but also with the police. Depending on the frequency and severity of your inconsiderate behavior, you may be arrested and your lease may be terminated.

6. Be sure to complete the end-of-lease cleaning

It is very rare these days that professional cleaning at the end of the tenancy is not described as a requirement for the return of your deposit when you leave the property. Most leasing agencies and even private landlords will specifically request receipts from cleaning companies to release the full deposit, even if you did a good job yourself.

7. Do not stop paying municipal taxes

In most cases, the tenant must pay the city tax during the rental period. Very few owners include this expense in the rental price. If you decide to dodge the council tax (as annoying as that is), you’ll be in breach of contract, which means you can be evicted and may still have to pay the municipality for the time you’ve lived in the property.

Ultimately, the easiest way to avoid a war with your landlord is to read your lease and follow it at all times. If it happens that you need to make some changes, simply discuss it with the property owner in a calm and courteous manner to obtain a result that is in their best interest.

Real Estate

The development of lanterns

Flashlights were originally invented by Joshua Lionel Cowen in 1898, but he did not intend them to be a portable lighting device. Instead, Cowen intended his design to be sold as accent lighting to go with potted plants. Cowen was not commercially successful and eventually sold his company to Conrad Hubert.

Hubert hired an inventor to use Cowen’s design to create what is known today as a flashlight or electric torch. To begin marketing this new product, Hubert gave them to New York City police officers to use on the job. These lanterns were very different from the ones we use today. They could only be used in short bursts of light due to low power elements and inability to hold current. In fact, this inability to maintain a beam of light is where the name flashlight comes from.

The first lanterns used incandescent bulbs and many lights on the market today still use this type of lighting. One of the most popular brands of incandescent flashlights is Maglite, which provides a high powered beam with many of its products. Of course, there are always those who want more than what is available, and it is a common pastime among lantern enthusiasts to replace light sources or other parts of these products with items that will produce a much more powerful beam of light.

In addition to incandescent bulbs, the modern age has brought us many more ways to create light. Probably the next most popular light source among flashlights these days is the LED light. LED stands for Light Emitting Diodes. The first LED flashlight hit the market in 2001, and since LED lighting is so much more efficient than incandescent, many manufacturers have produced LED flashlights ever since. In addition to longer battery life, LED lights also have the advantage of being more durable than regular incandescent lights, making them an obvious choice for manufacturers who want to produce long-lasting products. For people who need a flashlight that can take a beating, LED lighting is a great option and can be found in brands like Maglite, Surefire, and Pelican.

Another light source that has been developed in recent years is the High Intensity Discharge, or HID, bulb. An example of this type of bulb can be found in the Surefire Hellfire Weaponlight. An HID bulb is very shock resistant and incredibly bright. In fact, the 3,000 lumens generated by the Hellfire Weaponlight can illuminate targets several football fields away. However, HID lighting has yet to make a big impact on consumer flashlights because they are expensive and require large power sources, making them less portable than standard handheld flashlights.

In addition to standard commercial flashlights like Maglite, there is also a whole market dedicated to high-end flashlights. These manufacturers provide specialty lights that are made from special materials, are waterproof, and provide brightness that far exceeds that of a standard flashlight. These products are designed with specific uses or collectibles in mind, and can range in price from just over a hundred dollars to several hundred dollars! Some examples of high-end lights include Streamline’s HID Litebox, which is a million-candle power search light, and Surefire’s M6 Guardian, which is often used as a tactical light by police. These types of lights are often collected and traded by lantern enthusiasts around the world. In fact, there is even an annual Lantern Convention and several museums dedicated entirely to lanterns!

As flashlight technology developed over the years, inventive people came up with more and more ways to use this product, which meant that more and more types of flashlights were created. For example, years ago someone came up with the idea of ​​putting lights on hard hats for use in mining, and more recently, tool companies began designing smaller lights that could be strapped to the head for hands-on work. free. In the last century, crafters have seen lights that hang, lights that can be attached to the wall or work space, and lights with flexible cylinders that can be wrapped around rods or other things. At the beginning of the development of lanterns, the lights reflected the times, and some of them even looked like lanterns. Seeing how lanterns have changed over the years with culture and technology, you can only wonder what the next generation of lights will look like!

Real Estate

Invisible Grivory Knives For Metal Detectors: Should Security Guards Be Worried?

Undetectable weapons passing through metal detectors have long been a problem in the security industry. Despite 3D printing experiments, usable non-metallic firearms remain a pipe dream for the average criminal. “Plastic Glocks” caused a gust of panic in the late 80s: the Austrian manufacturer developed a pistol, significant parts of which were made from non-ferrous polymers; although the barrel, slide, and other parts were still made of metal, public perception soon distorted the weapon into a plastic weapon that was undetectable by metal detectors. This version of the Glock was notably portrayed in Die Hard II. However, fears of a plastic pistol were found to be largely unfounded: as already mentioned, the actual weapon at the basis of the controversy had several metal parts, and security checkpoints equipped with metal detectors were unsuccessful. trouble finding them.

Cold weapons are a different story. With no moving parts and the need to contain explosive propellant, these are much easier to make from non-metallic materials. “Grivory” is one such material.

Grivory is the most common trade name for a polymer called polyphthalamide, which is a synthetic resin related to nylon. It exhibits heat resistance and hardness that make it a suitable replacement for metal in a number of roles, such as high-temperature auto parts.

Grivory has also found some use in knife making. Cold Steel, a California-based manufacturer of bladed weapons, uses it in several of their lines. Primarily the material is used in knife handles, because it is lightweight and strong, but some knives also have Grivory blades. Most of these are fixed blade knives, which means that they cannot be folded and the blade extends into the handle.

The questions with Grivory knives are whether they are truly undetectable and whether they constitute dangerous weapons.

There is a popular perception that all knives must have metal parts in order for them to be detectable for safety. This is comforting but false in any meaningful sense.

Unsurprisingly, many jurisdictions prohibit the manufacture or sale of stealth weapons; for example, California Penal Code section 12001.1.(a) prohibits the manufacture or importation of any “undetectable knife,” defined as “a knife or other instrument with or without a forend that may readily be used as a stabbing weapon that may inflict serious bodily injury or death that is commercially manufactured for use as a weapon and is not detectable by a metal detector or magnetometer, whether handheld or otherwise, that is established in standard calibration.”

However, we were able to easily find Grivory fixed-blade knives for sale online that only had one metal part: a key-chain-like loop. This ring can be removed with hardly any effort, making the knife truly invisible to metal detectors, which is exactly how this product was advertised (and yes, they do ship to California).

The performance of the Grivory rackets is another matter. For what it’s worth, these knives aren’t known for their strength or ability to hold an edge—some users report the tips breaking off when cutting through boxes, while another called them “as dangerous as a credit card.” Sharpening them is a risky proposition, some users say it can’t be done, while others recommend doing it carefully with a file or sandpaper. Knife aficionados report that Grivory and other polymers are pretty useless when it comes to cutting, though they are somewhat effective for stabbing.

All told, a Grivory knife can do some injury, but it’s pretty ineffective and fragile as a combat weapon – your staff or night stick has much better range and can do a lot more damage in most cases.

It’s no coincidence that Grivory knives (and other non-metallic knives) don’t seem to have great appeal among criminals, especially since their properties are useless when it comes to eluding X-ray scanners. Law enforcement practice hasn’t seen much criminal use. of these knives in routine civilian life; it seems that they are simply not used as often to commit crimes.

In conclusion, it is true that you can buy undetectable non-metallic knives for a fairly low price and smuggle them through metal detectors. However, as a security guard, the chance of running into one of them is very low, and you should be more concerned with other weapons that are frequently used to commit crimes, such as good metal firearms.