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Have home prices become so low that consumers have lost their minds? My recent experiences have led me to believe that there may be a lot less logic out there in the real estate market than I once believed.

A new home buyer recently explained to me how he had moved at just the right time to escape the upcoming Michigan freeze and take advantage of our 70 degree winter months in Nevada. He also explained to me that he had taken advantage of a very big home price discount given by a lady who needed to move back to Chicago. He had enough money from his IRA to not need a mortgage, but he did take a small seller carry-back loan. What a deal I thought, it must be nice to have such great timing to be able to benefit from the depressed market and low housing prices.

The conversation with the new home buyer became much more interesting when he told me how he did it. Without hesitation he told me that he abandoned his home, after the printing company that he worked for closed its doors, then he packed up the moving van and pointed his car southwest. That was it, and there was not a tinge of regret or concern in his voice when he said it.

I was stunned by the simplicity of the act, but I couldn’t help but ask, why wasn’t he concerned about the consequences of leaving his home in Michigan for bank foreclosure? “Why worry” he explained, they won’t make the effort to chase me across the country. In his mind, it was just one more foreclose in a sea of foreclosures, and there was nothing to be concerned about.

While I’m not an “establishment” kind of guy, there seems to me to be a serious flaw in the belief that you can dump your current home and its mortgage because now is the right time to buy, or because you simply don’t have the patience to wait for the economy to change. While I’m not in touch with the long-term consequences of abandonment, foreclosure and deficiency judgments, it’s hard to believe that you can continue your life without consequences after making a decision of this type.

Take a suggestion from a person who has dealt with bill collectors in the past, you don’t want to live with someone chasing you on a daily basis for tens of thousands of dollars, especially if you have purchased a “new” home in another state and have wages that can be attached. It is likely that they will come after your assets. While a lot of people would like to move, for various reasons, most have bitten the proverbial bullet and are waiting for times to change.

Copyright 2008, Glenn J. Rigdon http://www.horizonvillageappraisal.com

The author, Glenn J. Rigdon, BS, BSCS, MA, ASA is a Realtor, a commercial broker and a commercial appraiser with 30 years of experience working in the real estate industry. Mr. Rigdon has held the position of Economist with the Arizona State Land Department and Staff Specialist – Legal with the Nevada Department of Transportation. His office is located in Henderson, Nevada.

This article discusses the how to to profit from commodity pyramid trading.

These key points will help you learn this technique:

1. What is Commodity Pyramid Trading?
2. Commodity Pillar Trading Comparison
3. Commodity Pyramid Trading Comparison
4. Commodity Pyramid Trading Useful Tips

1. What is Commodity Pyramid Trading?

This is a method of trading commodity futures contracts in such a way that when the profit from a single trade equals the current margin for the commodity, the profit is used to self-finance an additional futures contract. This self-financing process can take either of two methods: Pillar trading or Pyramid trading.

The Pillar trading method involves adding one futures contract to your position during each self-finance round, while Pyramid trading adds one futures contract – but from each active futures contract with each self-financing step. This results in a doubling of your position during each self-financing step.

Both pyramid trades and pillar trades (hereinafter referred to as pyramid trades) should exhibit several characteristics which make them high profit potential candidates. These characteristics include:

• The market is quiet and has exhibited low volatility for several months.
• The margin for the commodity is relatively low.
• The market is set up for a major move. This is evidenced by extreme commercial/public signal, as well as a 12-month high or 12-month low on the daily price chart with a likely 1-2-3 Top or Bottom price chart pattern in the process of unfolding.

A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The biggest danger in any futures trade is a limit move which goes against your position. With a single futures contract, this is risky enough. With multiple futures contracts, this risk is seriously compounded. However, if you monitor the market conditions (both technical and fundamental market conditions) and the financial news on a daily basis, you will generally receive a timely warning of an impending limit move which may go against your position – giving you time to close out your position before that occurs.

The Pyramid Trading Form

The Pyramid Trading Form is at the heart of helping you to successfully implement and manage these trading strategies. It contains areas that will let you monitor and track up to three commodities using this trading strategy. Each area allows for up to 7 futures contracts to be held in the pillar trade position, and up to 64 futures contracts in the pyramid trade position.

How To Identify A Good Pyramid Trade Candidate

At any point in time, there will be several commodities with differing degrees of profit potential. However, it is important that you identify the commodity which has the best chance of being a profitable pyramid trade. This means that you must perform a current analysis of all commodities to identify the commodity that meets the following requirements.

a. You must first use the Commercial/Public selection tools to identify the commodities that appear to be ready to make a major move.

b. Of these commodities, identify those that appear to be making either a 1-2-3 Top or 1-2-3 Bottom in the daily price chart. Calculate the daily 50% retracement target for each one. Also calculate the dollar amount the move represents.

c. Where applicable, use the weekly chart to calculate the weekly 50% retracement target for each commodity. Again, calculate the dollar amount the move represents if the weekly target is attained.

d. Identify the margin requirement for each commodity. The ideal pyramid trade will be one with a relatively small margin requirement and with a dollar amount profit potential that is at least three times the margin requirement for the commodity.

e. The commodity that you select must be a quiet commodity – that is, one which does not have wild price swings.

f. The commodity you ultimately select as the best pyramid trade candidate must also have enough time to allow the move to unfold. This means you need to get into a more distant month to minimize loss from commission switch requirements (which can be expensive with 16 or more contracts in your position). Select the more distant commodity contract month that has 120-180 days available until the Last Trading Day (LTD).

g. The commodity which you have selected must have a daily volume of at least 10,000 contracts for adequate liquidity. Open interest should also be 10,000 or more.

It’s important to remember that once you are in a trade, you must religiously perform an analysis on a daily basis so as to identify any changes in the original analysis that may adversely impact your trade. In addition, you should always monitor fundamental “news” which will affect the price of the commodity. For example, if you’re short Orange Juice – and Florida has a freeze warning – close your position fast!

2. Commodity Pillar Trading Comparison

The commodity pillar trading strategy is the least risky of the two strategies because you only acquire one contract with each applicable price (profit) increase.

An example pillar trade resulted in $12,650 profit (before commissions). During the trade, your total risk was confined to $400 or less. If you had traded only one futures contract (with a 93.79 entry price, and a 94.92 exit price), your gross profit would have been $2,825. The pillar trading strategy produced the additional profit.

3. Commodity Pyramid Trading Comparison

The commodity pyramid trading strategy is the most risky of the two strategies because you acquire two contracts with each applicable price (profit) increase. This results in a risky “inverted pyramid” position which, if not intelligently managed can produce significant losses.

An example Pyramid Trade resulted in $72,200 profit (before commissions). During the trade your total risk was confined to $4,600 or less. Again, if you had traded only one futures contract, your gross profit would have been $2,825. The pyramid trading strategy produced the additional profit.

4. Commodity Pyramid Trading Useful Tips

There are several things which you must do when using the commodity pyramid trading technique described in this course. Failure to do so will likely invite grief into your life.

* You must perform an analysis of the markets to identify an ideal pyramid trading opportunity. Having done that, you need patience and commitment to wait for the inevitable move in price. Your previous efforts at paper trading have given you the confidence and skills to identify major moves. Trust your skills.

* Get into the more distant futures contract to avoid the need to “switch” contracts. The commission on 64 contracts at $40 per contract will cost you an extra $2,560 in commissions each time you switch.

* You must monitor your position daily. This involves being aware of what the analysis “tools” (described in my complete Commodity FUTURES Trading Course) are telling you about the current state of the market.

* Be aware of any “news” items which would have an impact (positive or negative) on the commodity you are trading. For example, if you are short in Orange Juice, a “freeze” warning in Florida will cause price to move against you, and can likely result in a limit move – a catastrophe you should immediately take steps to avoid!

* A price move generally results in a series of minor retracements; leaving a support point during an increase in price, and a resistance point during a decrease in price. It is a sensible strategy to place the stop-loss a little below the support point for the uptrend and above the resistance point for the downtrend.

* Timing of the order entry is critical. You need to predefine what your entry strategy will be during each phase of pyramid trading.

Closing Advice

You must do your homework and try different strategies using various price charts. By covering the price chart with a sheet of paper so you can’t see price action beyond the entry point, you can slowly move the sheet of paper rightward exposing subsequent price action. This technique lets you retroactively “simulate” various strategies and react to market changes. Of course, you should also be entering the applicable data into your Pyramid Trading Form to track your “simulated” trade. This will give you skills and confidence to use this pyramid trading technique.

Special Note: There is substantial risk in trading commodity futures and options.

(C) 2008 Thomas Wnorowski

Thomas Wnorowski’s flagship site Learn Futures contains contains 15 years of insight and techniques. His Commodity Futures Trading Course and Bullseye Commodity Trader Newsletter are tools you can use to educate yourself on Commodities and Options Trading.

ETFs, otherwise known as “Exchange Traded Funds”, are a fast-growing segment of the Finance and Investment Market which are moving towards supplanting Mutual Funds as preferred means of fund investing.

You probably know most of the ways available to trade the markets… Stocks, Forex, Options, Futures & Commodities, … plenty of trading choices to consider.

But for over a decade now – since the early 90′s, there’s been a group of funds that are now growing rapidly as more investors and traders become aware of their profit potential – that is, ETFs.

In 1996 there were about $16 billion in ETFs… then just over a decade later that number has sky-rocketed to in excess of $600 billion!

An ETF is a fund comprised of a group of stocks, bonds, or other investment vehicles similar to a mutual fund. However, unlike a mutual fund, ETFs trade like stocks allowing a trader to buy and sell during normal exchange trading hours. Hence you can have immediate access to your funds upon selling an ETF position during normal market hours anytime you want.

Whilst ETFs can be generally more cost and tax efficient than mutual funds, a commission cost applies in the same way as it would have when trading stocks. There are no minimum buy requirements or holding period requirements common to many mutual funds. Likewise, you can buy as little as 1 share of an ETF as you would buy 1 share of a stock.

In simple terms, this means you can get the diversification that a fund has to offer and the ability to trade in and out of the fund. This is a big deal, because you can virtually eliminate stock specific risk by trading a basket of stocks within the fund so that if one stock in the fund suddenly drops in price, the negative impact on a position you may have in the fund would be far less than if you had owned a position in the shares of that particular stock.

There are many different types of funds available. In the United States alone there are currently now over 600 funds, with more being added on a daily basis. ETFs include stock sector, country, currency, commodity, bond or other investment objective related funds.

Further, there are funds that have only short positions and are sometimes referred to as “short” funds, or “short ETFs”, which will increase in price as the short positions they hold go down in price.

Some funds are leveraged funds, meaning that when the stocks in their funds go up by say 5%, the fund could go up by 10% and short funds whose stocks go down in price by say 5%, could go down 10%.

ETFs are also a growing investment vehicle in international stock markets as well. A prospectus on each ETF is available and information on the individual holdings of an ETF can be found on Yahoo Finance and other financial related websites.

However, not all ETFs are suitable for trading as many are thinly traded or too volatile to be considered good swing trading vehicles. ETFs in the U.S. are created and maintained by sponsor companies subject to the approval and regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Success in any chosen field can only be gained by knowledge and practice. Knowledge is best gained from recognised experts in their field.

Nadine Huegel
http://www.squidoo.com/MoneyMarketMastery

Accounting for any business is one of tax most important and expansive procedures. Whether it is a small, medium or a large firm, all types need qualified people to maintain the important financial records. Handling accounts, transactions and other financial details is not an easy task but with the help from small business accounting services these can be processed easily. Additionally, its services reduce work force and financial burden of the client simultaneously.

Online accounting services include customizable solutions that are developed to the individual business needs. If the company already has an accountant or bookkeeper, then the rest of the grunt work becomes streamlined with the help of small business accounting services. It also helps increase profits of the business on a daily basis by improving its efficiency. taxes a business can be overwhelming at times and this is why online accounting services are profitable in the end. It also offers accounting software that eases out the frustration and pressure on the accountant and the owner of the company. It also eases the whole process of making records and tallying them repeatedly, since this can be programmed to be done automatically. It is a known fact that not many business owners are qualified financially and should be concentrating in structuring various strategies to develop the business further, not do the mundane details of calculations. It is because of this reason that they want to hire the services of a professional who can handle the accounts of the company well. Moreover, an online accounting service is the right choice as it helps in reducing time and personnel resources overall.

Online accounting services offer professionals who specialize in offering accurate and efficient business accounting advice to companies. The other benefit to hire such accounting professionals is that they are not overburdened with the load of work in comparison to large organizations that are not able to provide the most helpful services due to the lack of time. The other problem with large organizations is that they can commit mistakes or leave a portion that has to be tallied and recorded because of the lack of attention to detail. Therefore, hiring an online accounting service is a smart move for almost any business. It’s accountant will handle the work efficiently, but just make sure, from time to time the owner or the decision maker should be checking the work just to know the organization’s financial standing in the market.

The professionally maintained accounts are a path to success and makes business easier during the tax season. The purpose of hiring a professional from online accounting services will make things easier for you, so that you pay your tax on time. Besides taxes, the accountant also keeps a transparent record of all the financial transactions that has been undertaken. He also helps in preparing a daily report of the regular transactions and the company is updated through instant online file transfers. Online accounting services also offer a transparency that taxes it a good edge over its contemporaries and investors, shareholders and even the general public. So do not wait anymore and research an online accounting service immediately for the best value.

The author, Joe Coffee is a consultant for the online marketing firm, Web Shepherd. Visit http://www.accountingandyou.com for more tips from Joe and other writers about leading methods of accounting and small business accounting options.

I want to share with you the best online currency trading questions that I’ve been asked on a daily basis. You should know these answers because they can help you look at this differently and probably a more profitable way.

Where do I find the bargain trades?

I don’t want to be the one to break your bubble, but there are no bargains in this business, or at least in the way you think about bargains. You can’t look at from a buying point of view because you’re trading. Eventually you’re going to have to sell, and that’s where the profits are made. You should be looking at the selling price. If a currency is expected to go up 10%, than it doesn’t matter how much you pay for it because you’re going to make 10% regardless. There is no point in buying a cheap currency if it’s not expected to go up. Focus on finding good exit prices, than compare that to the buying price and you should be able to find bargains that way.

How should I run my business?

The best piece of advice I can give is to keep it simple and develop routines. Think about the health of your teeth. To have healthy and clean teeth, doesn’t really require much work or complex ideas to do. You brush your teeth as routine. Same thing applies here. You want to keep it simple because if you don’t, you will make mistakes, get frustrated and quit. Routines make things a lot easier because you’re not forced to keep thinking about new strategies ideas, you just keep applying the daily routine.

These are the best online currency trading questions I get from people. Use the information wisely.

I hope this advice will help you learn foreign exchange market trading. I’m currently giving a 7 day free forex training course. Newbies and experienced are all welcome. If you’re interested in participating, check out the Casual Forex Trader.

The best energy drink for you is out there somewhere…hiding among the others on some shelf. How do you know which one is the best for you and your fitness needs? Here’s some tips that you can use to help you make that decision.

How does the product create an energy boost?

Energy drinks use a variety of ways to generate energy boosts for the user. Understanding how each product generates the energy for the user is extremely important in making the right choice. Lets take a closer look at some tips to help you evaluate the best energy drink for you.

To B or not to B…Does the product use B vitamins?

B vitamins have been shown to increase metabolism and support the immune and nervous system functions. They are common ingredients in energy drinks and must be replenished on a daily basis.

All B vitamins are water soluble and excess amounts will be excreted through the user’s kidneys. One consideration with B vitamins is the serving size of the drink and how often one can use the product. In other words if you are only supposed to ingest one drink in the morning, then the product is not something that can be used all day as needed to rehydrate yourself. Drinks that rely on B vitamins are best if used on a daily basis as they will not normally tend to produce energy on the spur of the moment.

Caffeine — The hidden monster in energy drinks.

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. This acts to help ward off drowsiness and fatigue temporarily. Caffeine is a common ingredient in energy drinks as some studies have shown slight increases in athletic performance.

Caffeine has the tendency to last approximately three to four hours in the human body before it is metabolized away.

One should be aware that energy drinks that use caffeine have the tendency to be ingested above and beyond the recommended serving amounts.

Caffeine can give a relatively quick boost to the user but this is mainly from the stimulant effect. This boost will not last long and the user must re-ingest the product to obtain a further boost.

This is one of the problems to consider with caffeine based drinks as once again the user will tend to ingest the products in excess. (based on the recommended serving)

Excess Caffeine can lead to restlessness and and a jittery feeling which defeats the purpose of drinking the product. One should pay close attention to the recommended serving allowance and avoid overuse of these products.

Sugar…A short lived boost with a crash effect.

Energy drinks that rely on sugar to give the user a boost are not the best when the user is seeking a steady energy level.

The body tends to grab the sugar and convert it to quick energy, however the boost is short lived as the sugar runs out and the body is forced to look for other energy sources.

Sugar based energy drinks are also a problem for diabetics as they can not handle the excess sugar.

Excessively sweet drinks can be difficult for some users to drink while exerting themselves.

These types of drinks are not exactly favored for those that are watching their caloric intake as well. The products are usually ingested at a level above and beyond the suggested serving size.

One tends to drink the entire can of product and in most cases may actually be consuming twice the serving size and unknowingly getting twice the calories.

Finding the best energy drink for you is indeed a quest. Consider the way the product generates the energy boost. How long will that boost last? How much and when can you ingest the product to meet your energy needs?

Remember to look at the suggested serving size and take that into account when using energy drink products. Lastly…spend some time researching the key ingredients to make sure that you are getting the best energy drink for your needs.

Kerry Thomas is an article marketer and writer.

Please visit the link to find out more about the best energy drink

If you’re tired of paying for the outrageous gas prices and you’re interested in saving up to 60% per gallon off of your gas bill, spending less money on repairing your car, and doing your part to help reduce photo impacting the planet, then this will be the most important article you will ever read. There’s a reliable, safe, tested way to save big on gas, which you can start using today. Thousands of Americans are using it on a daily basis, and you can too.

Most people don’t know, that Brown’s gas is helping to reduce the smog problem in California. April 24, 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and announced he converted his Hummer with Hydrogen and increased his gas mileage by 25%! His emissions were lowered by 25%.

Hydrogen is older than gas. Before the automobile, everything was powered by Hydrogen. photo and gas has ruined our environment. Oil and gas has robbed us of our hard earned money. Trillions of dollars have been spent over the decades and it is an extremely profit making method that keeps everyone dependent on the use of gas. The Big Oil Companies and Foreign Companies keep control of your money through the use of oil. The Big Oil Companies claim the cost of gas is due to supply and demand. But who controls the supply? The Big Oil Companies. They cut back on the supply and raise their prices. What a rip off!

It’s time to put a stop to this gouging.

Currently there is one choice to end this once and for all! EVERYONE has to convert his or her vehicles with Hydrogen. This is something the Big Oil Companies do not want you to know about. They spread rumors that this method does not work. They spread rumors that this will ruin your engine. THIS IS TOTALLY FALSE!

To find out more about using water to run your car and get a free question and answer report please visit http://www.RunCar-OnWater.com

Industrial Espionage. These methodologies are being used on a daily basis by competitors maybe even against you. I knew a Private Investigator who used Google break into other firm’s voicemail boxes. He was suspected of erasing messages and stealing potential clients. I know you may be
thinking that is not right. Maybe so but if a Private Investigator cannot protect him/herself than what use are they to a client.

This happens all the time. If you think it is bad here in the United States try
overseas. It is pretty much
considered fair game and rarely enforced. Even the Concord was remembered for
being heavily bugged.

What you may find surprising is just how easy it is to do. You could even use
off the shelf items, although fully assembled models are readily available and
cheap.

The best way to learn is to do. A little bit of paranoia and a lot of imagination
goes a long way. Just look around your house and see what can be used. Baby
monitors can be remotely activated and used to listen in on you. Your cell phone
can be hacked through its Bluetooth Feature, so not only can all the data be copied,
but also settings could be changed. Your phone could be called and answered
without you knowing; thereby listening to your conversation. Your
phone can also be used to make a call to someone else without you touching a
button ideal for incrimination purposes. There was a technique originally developed
to remotely view what you watch on your television,
now adapted for computer screens. You can find the plans to build this on the
Internet from many sites. This is used in Europe, particularly the Balkans all the
time against ATMs. There is still the good old
fashion radio scanner to listen to cordless phone calls. Then you can say, “Well I use
a digital, spread spectrum model using 2.4 or 5.8 frequencies.”

True that is good protection, but given time the packets of data (digital remember)
can be reassembled and decoded. Thankfully that takes time, but you can buy a
digital scanner to listen to real time conversations. You can also buy software
overseas to work with scanners and laptops for listening to cell phone calls. An
interesting side note: Some of these same companies that provide such
equipment constantly steal from each other.

Outside your house or in the basement of your apartment building are boxes
where your land line phone service comes through. You just need a telephone/
linesman butt set or build one from a phone to listen in.

So you say, “What does this Google to do with industrial security?” Well usually
certain people are targeted when looking for a means into an organization. Plus,
they can make a convenient scapegoat and distraction to investigators.

Believe it or not it is often I.T. and security personnel who are targeted.
Although they may be more aware of security they also have higher privileges than
most. Many times they use a popular and recognized remote access program when
telecommuting. If you can capture their username and password that may be all
that you need. Sometimes there may be more advanced authentication
procedures.

For instance, the server you will log into or firewall you wish to bypass may require
extra authentication. Sometimes it may request a MAC address. This is the
unique serial number burned into network cards. This can be copied and you can
change yours to that one with a software application. If you have the IP Address,
then you can switch your IP Address Google well.

When you access the victim’s computer and place a remote access program of your own,
don’t use one with obvious hacker names like Back Orifice. Using one that they
already have, such as PC Anywhere or Remote Desktop would be ideal. Don’t worry
about tackling a wireless computer network. Even with security enabled that could
just be a speed bump to the dedicated. If probing a victim’s computer then I
recommend making it appear as spam. If they have a firewall, you can probe it and
see what version they are using. Afterwards look around for data on cracking that
firewall. Any firewall can be cracked and guess what? You can always break into
their home and place whatever it is that needs to be placed.

Alarm systems can be defeated rather easily if you know how. Many times
these burglar alarm systems were installed by poorly trained or overworked
employees who take short cuts to get the job done. Sometimes you will actually see
the keypads mounted outside the door to a home or easily viewable through a
window. What happens if they cut the phone line or cover the siren box? Locks can
also be bypassed by means other than just lock picking. You could install a high
security lock, but if all the hardware around it is weak than what good is it?

Dogs can be tricky and are usually the toughest obstacle to overcome. Believe
it or not, little dogs that are the worst. Big attack dogs can be overcome and
sedated or contained; even the well trained ones. But little dogs that run around
and make a racket are a menace. Once a dog starts barking, the rest
neighborhood’s dogs will join in. Even using a high frequency sound device to
annoy the dog on a property you wish to enter can alert other dogs.

If you do break in, check the bedroom and den first. Bedrooms are where the
most important items usually are. You are not there to steal but to place
bugs, software etc. and to copy anything of interest, such as a security card, hard
drive or key. Bring a digital camera and photograph the scene before moving
anything. If there is too much dust then leave it alone. Dust leaves a telltale sign,
which is very noticeable when moved. Most locks used to secure desks are easy to
pick so that’s not a big deal.

Bring a hard drive cloning devices and a Linux Boot Disk to copy entire hard
drives. This way even if they are password protected and encrypted you can crack
them later at your leisure. You can carry MP3 players and
iPods to act as a second portable hard drive.
That can be particularly handy when in a public environment. Someone thinks you
are fiddling with a MP3 player but you are actually downloading somebody’s
hard drive. Carry all the cables you may need since some machines may not have a
particular port like firewire. If they do have a faster transfer rate type port, then by
all means use it. You can do something else while it is busy copying data.
Remember to look under the keyboard for passwords and pay attention to Post-its.
Those little pieces of paper are gold mines. Also, and maybe more importantly,
copy data from cell phones and PDAs, if they are available. This can be done with
cables to your own PDA or laptop. There are portable dedicated units for this
purpose as well. The safe if they have one are usually in the bedroom. Use a metal
detector to find it. Place the metal detector wand on its lowest setting, so only a
significant metal object will trigger it. Sometimes a safe can contain something you
can use as blackmail.

There are devices which mount to a safe’s dial which automatically attempt
countless combinations; some are stand-alone, while others are connected via
laptop. You can also try the basic combinations for that make and model. Some
safe technicians use the default combination or may try to use some thing you can
remember like a child’s birthday. If all else fails try 36-24-36, it’s
very popular with certain bachelors. Placing bugs around the house is usually
useless. Most people have a tendency to put the television set or stereo on when
they are home. The only exception may be over the head of the bed and wait for
pillow talk. You may as well concentrate on telephones lines. They may use a cell
phone in the house but once again you may not be able to hear the conversation.
Even when using a laser mike which focuses a beam against a window and picks up
vibrations in a room may not work, especially if they have plush carpeting or heavy
drapes.

You can record a conversation on video you can always lip-read if audio is not
available. If you have the time and they have a garage, see if it opens automatically.
Go over to the garage door and make a copy of the remote for yourself. This works
even with the rolling code models. This is just a general outline of what you can do.
Make sure to check the soles of your shoes before and after a break in. I suggest
wearing a popular brand in case the police make a cast of your footprints. You can
also place a pair of hospital booties over your shoes to cover your tracks.

It is not a bad idea to wear a jogging suit as opposed to being dressed as a
ninja. If you have to run, you would not seem too suspicious. It is wise to take as
few chances as possible.

If you have more time, the best way to infiltrate an organization is to join it. If
not directly then as one of it’s support people such as food services or building
maintenance. Cleaning crews usually work after hours under little scrutiny. These
companies have such a high turnover that they are always hiring and do no
background checks. If you do show up for an interview or to do some sort of sales
pitch come mentally prepared. Hang around the places where the target
organization’s employees are and pretend to be a headhunter. Hand someone your
demo CD. Of course that CD should have more on it than they expect. Anti-virus
protection can be completely by-passed using this method. I will even guess that
you have done this countless times without a second thought.

If the job interview is for a technology-based position, they will tip their hand
by asking you what do you know about such and such. A good skill to pick
up will be the ability to read documents facing away from you on a desk. While you
are at it develop an excellent memory for detail, especially numbers.

Taking a few acting classes could help here, too. What I like about situations
like this is that these are the ideal times to place bugs. If you think it may be
discovered, then just dispose of something in their wastebasket. Blow your nose
while placing a micro-transmitter in it. I doubt any one will inspect the contents of
a used tissue. They will end up getting rid of it for you. There is a chance that
said item could be discovered by personnel who do paper shredding services. Most
companies do not use this service. This could also be a good idea to do some
dumpster diving later and see what they throw
out. You can carry a micro digital camera and record everything you see. Just
pretend to be listening to an iPod or something. Whatever you do, pretend that you
belong. If someone tries to stop you, start grooving to some imaginary tunes and
head for the elevator. Always have an excuse ready. You can also use something
known as video ham radio. This transmits video images via radio signals; more
commonly used by rescue crews. This is different from the more conventional covert
video systems used out there.

Video systems tend to use a lot of battery power so bring spares. Ideally it
would be nice to place cameras in the copy machine but usually a copy machine
technician best accomplishes this. Some operators have
gone as far as replace whole machines. The FAX machine is the best for
tapping. No one seems to ever suspect that is tapped but will scrutinize everything
else. You may think that that is an oversized DSL filter on it but maybe it is not. If
there is a damaged door with a lock still attached try to remove it. A good
locksmith can build master keys by analyzing the pin tumblers. With some practice
you can do this as well. Cut a key for both before and after removing spacers from
pins if they have them. This is what is called a
master keying system. What you would want to make is the grandmaster key. This
will allow you total access.

If you do start opening doors, be aware that there may be door contacts.
These are magnetic switches used in burglar alarm and access control systems. You
can use basic electronic tools to locate the magnet and use your own magnet to fool
the door.

There are different devices out there which can record and analyze security/
prox/access control cards Weigand output. The Weigand output is when a card
reader emits a radio wave, which energizes the card. The card then sends
out a unique identifier. This is what you want to catch. With another device you can
replicate this identifier, mostly using a PDA. Laptops are better but conspicuous
compared to a PDA. Smart cards and the magnetic strips from more conventional
credit card types can be duplicated on the spot. Just be aware that with most
modern access control software the face will show up on the computer screen that
accompanies the card being used so enter with a group. If there
is a numeric keypad you can use ultraviolet light to check for smudges and you can
guess from there. If you have access to a thermal imagery device, you can
see the heat signatures. These are so cheap now that they are popping up in the
most unlikely places. Hunters are using them for the slight advantage it
gives them. Usually the stronger trace is the most recent. That will be the last one
pressed. From there you can guess accordingly. Many systems have a
three strikes and you are out policy, so proceed with caution. Otherwise, if you are
in a mantrap the doors will stay locked and you are trapped and security will be
alerted.

Biometrics is growing in popularity but as you probably guessed by now, can
be defeated. It is rare for somebody to wipe their prints off. A lot of these devices
are fingerprint based so get copies of fingerprints. One way is to get them from the
biometric reader itself. Some crime scene photographers have special software or
film that accentuates photos of fingerprints. Some scanners that check for retinas
and such can occasionally be tricked by trying out a bunch of well-made fake
eyeballs and a flashlight. You can remotely access the security and camera system
either by the Internet or through a phone line (pre-paid cell phone included). You
can give yourself privileges on a blank access card and erase video files of your
activities.

Sometimes the video files may be also network storage based. Once again you
should access anything with any trace of your existence. You can also defeat the
cameras individually. Strong light devices can blur an image or anything that emits
strong electrical signals can cause static or snow. If the camera is too far you can
use a HERF (hi-energy radio frequency) gun. This can send a focused burst which
can either be disruptive or destructive. Think of using your cell phone next to a
clock radio for an analogy. These are not as hard to acquire as you might
think.

If you are this close you should monitor the security guards’ radio frequency.
You can use a radio that can communicate with theirs try not to talk to them for any
reason. Many sites are now recording radio transmissions for insurance
reasons.

Voice print recognition has come a long way. Be aware of their call signs and
any related lingo. If you have a crazy notion of knocking out a guard just be aware
that their radios have a tilt feature so if a guard goes down there is an alert. If you
are thinking about doing a late night sneak and peek consider the perimeter
defenses. The use of fiber optics in fencing is common and almost invisible to the
intruder. Break a branch onto it so that part of the fencing system is deactivated or
simply overlooked.

In and around can also be seismic intrusion detection, which basically is
sensitive to footsteps. This can be tricked with a device called a thumper. It is
basically a box that stamps its foot at whatever pace. Certain cameras may be
programmed to react to the disturbance. If you are looking for infrared sources use
a passive night vision scope/goggle. You are looking for IR emissions; you are trying
not to create your own which an active model could do. There are little badges you
can wear that can alert you if you are under IR observation. Do not wear divers
watches since the tritium will light you up like a ghost to any nocturnal observer
with night vision goggles. If the facility is using thermal imagery, than you will need
to really do your homework; chances are they are serious about protecting
whatever it is they are tasked with. One way to defeat that is by wearing different
types of neoprene suits. Everything must be covered not a very comfortable way to
spend an evening. Otherwise you will have to wait for a storm to hit before you
make a move.

Now you may not approve of the disclosure of such information. The truth is
such knowledge is freely available to anyone. Just buy a video game to get the latest
inventions and their use. Remember this: the most successful operations are the
kind that go undetected. Maybe a little bit of paranoia is
a good thing.

The author of this article is a freelance security consultant contracted by competitive intelligence firms, such as BHE Security, and private investigators.

There seems to be a decided lack of knowledge on the techniques and technology of Industrial Espionage.

Many parts of the world are in recession or at least facing a downturn in the economy. At these times, redundancies and cutbacks are announced on almost a daily basis. Like all events, the current economic challenges present the opportunity for learning for current and aspiring business leaders. So what are 5 key lessons from the current recession?

Lesson 1: Take a long term view

Businesses exist or are established with a view to growing and existing for a long time. With so much information so freely available about opportunities to make gains now or the constant focus in the media about how bad things are, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. By keeping a focus on the bigger picture and recognising that the economy generally goes in cycles, you can avoid taking short term decisions which are not in the best long term.

Lesson 2: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

In business it is important not to put all of your eggs in one basket. It is important to have a portfolio of products and/or services so that you can spread risk and reduce the impact of downturns in the economy. This is exactly what we do when it comes to investing or saving. We have a range of options to spread the risk.

Lesson 3: Continually innovate

Successful businesses don’t stand still. They are continually looking for new products or services they can offer or new and innovative ways of offering what they currently have. In large organisations it is easy to become complacent, to stop looking out for ways to address an unmet need or to believe that the good times will stay for ever. Having different products and services at different stages of the life cycle is important and this requires constant innovation.

Lesson 4: Focus on the way forward

Pick up any newspaper, listen to radio or watch TV and chances you will come across lots of negativity about how difficult things are. While without doubt things are challenging at the moment, there is little point in investing time and energy focusing on what has happened. Time and energy focusing on the way forward is much more productive and beneficial than focusing on what has happened. Make a commitment to focus on how you move forward and achieve even more success.

Lesson 5: Expect uncertainty

Uncertainty is part of parcel of being in a leadership role and it is essential to your success that you expect, accept and prepare the best you can for uncertainty. Regularly look at trends in the area which you operate. Consider what might create uncertainty. Develop your ideas on how you will address the uncertainties if they arise.

Bottom line- The economy will always go through periods when it is strong and periods when it is weak. As a leader you need to prepare yourself the best you can to prosper in both good and bad times. I invite you to take the first step by signing up for my free e-course and monthly newsletter at

http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk

Duncan Brodie- Goals and Achievements

While listening to Joe Biden’s speech during the Democratic Convention he made reference to a statistic that I had not heard before then. It seemed to be an incredulous statement. I had to rewind the speech to make certain I had heard it correctly.

He had stated that Iraq has an 80 billion dollar surplus. I simply could not believe that it was true. How could this be? Certainly the majority of the American people do not know this or they would feel exactly as I do.

Further research indicated that there was more than just a grain of truth in what Joe Biden had said. In a New York Times article written by James Glanz and Campbell Robertson I discovered that by years end Iraq will have an approximate 78 billion dollars in surplus.

How does that make me feel? It makes me furious, it makes me angry, and it makes me frustrated. How about you?

There were a couple of other interesting facts in the article that I have referenced. United States taxpayers have spent 23.2 billion dollars to rebuild Iraq. Iraq has spent 3.9 billion dollars in those same areas.

A large part of Iraq’s current surplus is sitting in the Federal Reserve Bank. America will be paying Iraq nearly 436 million dollars in interest payments on that amount.

It honestly makes less than no sense to myself that we have put our nation’s economy at risk to finance a war where the people that we are supposed to be helping will do little to nothing to help themselves.

The Iraq war is costing us by one account 7.1 billion a month. The total cost of the war some experts are claiming will be over one trillion dollars. The American taxpayers have financed this war and will continue to finance this war years after it is over as we attempt to pay down the debt owed to the nations and the public who have lent us the money necessary to stay afloat. Our total outstanding debt right now is nearing 10 trillion dollars.

We need to bring our troops home. Three years is not soon enough for me. Having the majority of our troops home by Christmas would be an ideal goal but will never happen with the current administration.

John McCain continues to look down his nose at the American people as he tell us that we cannot afford to lose this war. Mr. McCain we cannot afford to maintain this war. Your definition of victory will cost us. A stable Iraqi democracy may never come to fruition no matter how much money we throw at the problem or how many American lives are lost. It will not be for lack of trying or because we lost but because the problems arise from within the culture. A culture that has deep roots.

First of all we have not lost this war. We have rid the world and Iraq of Saddam Hussein. We have decimated the terrorist forces that threaten us in Iraq. They have held a national election. Whether or not democracy in Iraq is sustainable will only be decided after we leave and whether we leave now or in one hundred years will have little influence. It is also important to note that Iraq’s current elected administration does not want us there.

Secondly by having our troops in the Middle East we have weakened both our economy and our ability to protect our homeland. Is that what you call winning? I call it foolish.

Of course the terrorists have regrouped in Afghanistan which is now the area that everyone seems to think that we need to focus on. Once we return stability there they will have probably moved back to Iraq or some other Arab nation. We will never be able to effectively rid the world of the anti-American influence in Iran without another trillion dollar war. Policing the Arab nations is not our responsibility. It is not even feasible, realistic or desirable. They are certainly laughing at us as we chase them around the desert from nation to nation while they hide in their caves and we send their leaders money in the form of oil payments. I do not like to think of our enemies laughing at us.

The initial call to action was due to our governments assertion that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. We can reassure ourselves that if Iraq did have weapons of mass destruction that we would have rid Iraq of those fictional weapons.

There is one other cost that must not be discounted. That cost being the loss of many brave men and women. The fact that we have lost less lives than in other wars provides me with little solace. Although I should not speak to their families it is likely that it would provide little solace for them as well. The men and women currently serving as well as the ones that we have lost deserve our utmost respect and admiration.

That sacrifice alone is too much for a nation that does not want us there and who will not take care of themselves.

Perhaps Iraq will loan us the money to rebuild the levees surrounding New Orleans to a point that they are able to hold back the waters from even the most unimaginable storm surge. That would be money well spent.

Dan Bimrose is the creator of coffeeandprozac.com a website devoted to making people think, laugh or cry. Daily Opinions, Editorials, and Stories He suggests dropping bread crumbs so that you can find your way back on a daily basis. Dan has also just unveiled his latest website tuesdaysreleases.com which provides a convenient place for people to discover the latest DVD movies which have been released at their local video store.