Dealing with a similar, though perhaps not weather related, fatal stage collapse in Israel last month, authorities moved swiftly to arrest four technicians involved with the set up and charge them with negligence.

While the way this incident was handled in Israel may have been driven by the fact that the person killed was a Israeli military officer, it still points to the idea that the only way to really make any progress on this front is hold individuals accountable for their involvement in the disaster.

While the Indiana incident has led to the creation of a safety alliance and generated a report pointing to something called “ambiguity of authority” as being responsible for the deaths and injuries suffered,  the response in Israel has been to hold those who did the work accountable and to address their alleged negligence as a criminal act.

While the U.S. staging industry tries to “meet” itself into a safer way to do business, Israel has chosen to insure that those who are not qualified or not careful will simply not be able to keep their jobs (or perhaps, their freedom).

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands.

The blog was a Clive Young interview with John Cooper, the front-of-house sound person for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

I was lucky enough to see one of their shows on the Wrecking Ball tour, last month, and it was very informative to get some insight into the person twisting the knobs.

When asked what it takes to make the leap from mixing bands in clubs to working for one of the biggest artists on the planet, Cooper’s response was both insightful and refreshing.  Instead of talking about the latest technology and how to network, Cooper’s advice was “listen to music“.  He pointed out that most musicians have little interest in the sort of “black box” immersion that most sound techs embrace. In order to gain the confidence of performers (read: employers) you need to be able to discuss music with them.

How you hear music and how you make it.  Not how you make it louder.

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What I had not really thought about, until now, is that there is potential for uplink speeds at the same sort of rate.  Most wireless network users stick almost exclusively to downloads, beyond sending a simple email or calling up a web page.

It is the uplink speed that is now revolutionizing electronic news gathering.  Using the commonly available 4G wireless networks, it is now possible for a reporter or camera man to upload high definition video in real time using nothing more cumbersome than a cell phone.

Combine that with a portable HD video camera and a wireless mic, and you have the ability to get real time video on the air from anyplace where there is a 4G cellular signal.  It can actually replace a satellite uplink truck!

Since the signal path is local (phone to tower to network) there is less latency (delay) than you experience with a satellite uplink, where the signal travels for hundreds of miles.  Power consumption is minimal and everything a reporter needs in the field can fit into a small backpack.

Satellite uplink trucks may well be the next victim of the internet.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cordsand OnStage Stand mic stands.

He, as we are, was aware of the uniqueness of the product line we offer, and liked the idea that he received his orders from us within one day, without having to pay for expedited shipping.  I appreciate his taking the time to try to shepherd us through the process.

Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to keep him as a customer.  Let me tell you why.

After two days of dealing with voice mail and endless phone chain commands, I was finally able to speak to a human being with the Virginia department who handles this process.  After considerable digging, she told me that we had actually applied to this certification program back in November of 2011 and that the application had been received but could not be processed because it did not have the necessary certification documents.  No one at the  Department of Minority Business Enterprise had ever bothered to follow up.

I was directed to a web site where I could get instructions on how to submit the required documentation.  Here’s what they needed in order for our former customer to buy a case of gaffers tape:

Copy of our federal tax return

Copy of our payroll records

Copy of a government issued photo ID of the company owner

We’ve never provided any sort of information like that in order to set up a customer account, and we don’t plan to do it now.

In theory, I applaud the idea of trying to level the playing field to give minority and small businesses a chance to get off the ground. The practice, however,  as defined by the state of Virginia will never work.  To deny your own purchasers the opportunity to buy from someone that you have clearly indicated that you would like to continue a relationship with, because they first have to pass through some “eye of the needle” that no one really understands, is simply shooting yourself in the foot.

I’m sorry that we may lose some sales to government customers in Virginia, but we will gladly give up this opportunity in order continue to be defined by the quality of service that we have provided for the last 27 years.  That should be enough!

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cordsand OnStage Stand mic stands.

Unfortunately, their good news is not the focus of this post.  Reading about their efforts prompted me to revisit the efforts of Duracell (the maker of the Procell batteries we sell) in joining the recycling movement.

Much to my surprise, when I “Googled”  the term “recycle duracell batteries” our battery disposal tips page at buybattery.com came up near the top of page one in the search results.

Now, normally I am very happy to see any of our web pages achieve page one results, but not this time.  If a company as small as ours get these sorts of search results with nothing but a few recycling tips, then efforts to get Duracell products out of the waste stream have a long way to go.

Duracell’s “disposal” tips (the search result directly above ours) indicates that it is safe to dispose of alkaline batteries with regular household trash.  This really misses the point.  Recycling is not about safety (even toxic material can be recycled!).  It is about reducing the amount of material in the waste stream headed for the landfill.

As a distributor of Duracell products, we stand ready to work with them in an effort to end the disposal of their products with regular trash.

It is time for them to step up and take the lead.

We encourage recycling and recycle batteries ourselves, but we will never have the potential to generate any sort of a campaign on a national level.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands.

The North Carolina regional competition was held in Raleigh, NC during the first weekend of April.  I attended on the last day of the event and I still can’t believe what I saw.  The work these kids did was outstanding, and USFirst can count on me as an ambassador of this great program with anyone who is willing to listen.

That is how the man who began this great organization has turned it into a national powerhouse.  Dean Kamen, best known as the inventor of the Segueway scooter, began USFirst twenty years ago because he understood the value of science education.  He also understood that if you build a great organization with a firm foundation, others will do your promoting-your “shouting”- for you.

Now luminaries from science, politics, entertainment, government and journalism are all lining up to sing the praises for USFirst.  USFirst reports in their current newsletter that 60% of Fortune 500 companies sponsor local teams.

We congratulate USFirst on their great accomplishment, thank them for being a wonderful customer, and wish them well on their upcoming national championships in St. Louis, MO at the end of April.

Click here to see some pictures from the North Carolina regional competition.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands.

While it turns out that what the audience saw was just some clever computer generated editing and projection by a company called Digital Domain.  The producers and the event promoters attempted to convince the audience that Tupac’s appearance was a hologram, but in reality, it was just a very clever projection produced by a company called AV Concepts.

This virtual performance was the latest take on 35 mm film presentations like Natalie Cole’s live film duet with her father Nat on her version of the hit song “Unforgettable” back in the 1990′s.

After seeing how much attention has been devoted to this re-purposing of a 19th century magicians trick, it is probably time to consider whether a concert going audience would actually accept a “virtual” performance and pay for it.

Since the Coachella show was such a hit, there is not talk about an arena tour that would feature Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog in a full blown concert with a virtual Tupac.

Read more about how this show was put together by clicking here.

____________________

Quick update-Two morons explain how this was done.  Skip  to 3:30 to bypass the mindless discussion.

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Located in North Hollywood, CA, since 2008 Ecoset has operated a warehouse where production supplies can be recycled.

Items such as set pieces,  plastic water bottles, office supplies, gels, electronic waste and construction materials can be both recycled and re-purposed in order to keep them out of the waste stream.  These services are available during preparation, actual production shooting and wrapping up after a production is finished.

Non-profits have access to reusable items like construction materials and non-reusable things like food waste and electronics can be recycled rather than being sent to the landfill.

You can see some testimonial videos by clicking here.

Click here to learn more about their new warehouse.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands.

When you are producing concerts and other outdoor events you find yourself either using a noisy and smoky construction generator, a too small extension cord run from the nearest building, or waiting forever for an electrician to install a temporary (and very expensive)service panel.  None are a good solution.

Kleege Industries, a long time player in mobile staging, has created a new and potentially revolutionary solution to this problem with their Helios 250 mobile stage.

This 32′x24′ mobile stage and load bearing roof is equipped with a 5000 watt solar array that generates enough power to operate a full size concert sound system.

It was tested extensively on last year’s Country Throwdown Tour with Willie Nelson, and according to a Kleege press release, it performed flawlessly.  It is also equipped with a backup biodiesel generator, but the genset was not needed a single time.

The Helios 250 is a collaboration with Sustainable Waves, a leader in the field of alternative energies.  They adapted their solar array technology to Kleege’s mobile stage to create a staging solution that works for a show anywhere the sun shines.  Onboard battery storage even allows the show to continue after dark.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands.

Today I came across what might be the most unusual use for gaffers tape that I have seen in 20+ years of selling the stuff.

Font designer Jason Gregory of GBH, working with Puma, the show and sportswear manufacturer, used gaffers tape to design a new typeface for Puma’s “Make Football Anywhere” campaign.  In this case we’re talking the English version of football, soccer.

The designers at GBH actually folded pieces of gaffers tape into different shapes to create the individual letters.  When they were finished, the digitized images of the folded tape to make the font.

Not only did they create something that was eye catching, the new font also reads well and stands out on the football field when used on players uniforms.  Click here to see examples of Puma’s “gaffer” font.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands.

Granelli Audio Labs has finally found a way to improve, or at least change, this classic microphone without modifying its sound.

They’ve taken a real (not replica) SM57 and bent it at a 90 degree angle so that it takes up less space on the drum riser or in the studio.The maker of this unique product claims that the sound of the mic is unchanged and that it maintains identical performance specifications to the original.  Unfortunately, the modified unit costs roughly double what you will pay for an SM57 off the shelf.

If you’d rather try bending one yourself, we’ve got ‘em here.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cordsand OnStage Stand mic stands.  We’ve got wired and wireless mics at buymic.com.

I had resisted using the online versions of some of these journals because they were cumbersome and did not lend themselves to being used in the way I normally like to read.

Recent upgrades in the subscription version of  Mix Magazine (Mix Online) have made me rethink how good digital magazines can be.  This journal for audio professionals has a cover price of $2.95 for the printed version, but is available free to those in the trade.

The  internet subscription version of Mix is different from their web site, Mixonline.com, and you must subscribe in order to access the full blown digital journal.  It’s still free, but instead of simply going to the Mix site, you access the online journal through a special url that arrives through email.

This adaptation is fully searchable, has an active table of contents, and can be scrolled page-by-page the same way you would read the printed verson.

It even has a handy “help” feature that lets you set up the pages in the manner that works best for your reading style.

Mix is a big magazine with lots of good original content, and while it is advertiser supported, their editorial policy appears to be one that does not unfairly favor the companies whose ads appear along with well generated content.

It even has a zoom feature that keeps from from having to reach for my glasses.

If you want to take a look before you  subscribe, just click here.

Goodbuyguys.com is a collection of web sites (including buytape.com, buybattery.com,buymicstand.com, buyextensioncord.com, buyaflashlight.com and buywireties.com) designed to deliver a great selection of production supplies.

The end of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament last night brought another revelation regarding where the television is headed.  Here’s one more reason to not count on the future of tv manufacturers.

I signed up for the NCAA  “March Madness” computer app (the first smart phone app I have ever bought) so that I could watch UNC play their first round game from my office, where I have no television.  I ended up watching another one of their games online in the round of 16 as well, since CBS opted to not broadcast it.  The app was not particularly well designed, but it was better than the radio, and I made it through the game.

Last night I was doing some work at home at my desk when I realized that the championship game was about to start.  Even though there is a big screen high def television in the same room as my desk, I found myself logging on to my NCAA “March Madness” account and watching the game (buffering, countless ads, jerkiness and all) rather than turning on the televison, because I needed to continue working.

It seems that convenience and content trumped high quality.  I didn’t even realize what I had done until the game was over.

As more and more content becomes available online, whether free or paid, the use of a dedicated device that only does one thing, like a television, seems doomed, regardless of the quality of the viewing experience.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cordsand OnStage Stand mic stands. Need an extension cord for your obsolete big screen tv?  We got ‘em!

The buyers guide of Front of House magazine for February 2012 features digital audio snakes.  These replace the standard audio mic snakes (multiple mic lines bundled into a single jacket) that have been the pro audio standard for ages.

The standard mic “snake” or multi-cable almost always uses the XLR standard connector at both the female (microphone) and male (mixer) end of the cable.  This has been in use for decades.  Consequently almost every manufacturers’ microphones will work with almost every cable makers cables and will interface with just about every mixer manufacturer’s products.

The digital version of the mic snake is designed to take an analog signal generated by the microphone, convert it to digital data, transmit it to the mixer position and then either plug directly into the mixer or turn the signal back into analog audio so that it can be introduced to the mixer as a re-converted analog signal.

I counted no fewer than 12 different digital protocols in use in the buyers guide, which means that one company’s  equipment will not work with another’s.

While it is great to have device that reduces the amount of wire and the associated weight and bulk, having a system that will work only with itself means that sharing, cross renting, short term supplements (all practices that has helped lots of small companies grow and larger ones exploit more opportunities) is no longer an option.  Your stuff is not going to work with their stuff.

Until the pro audio industry adopts a standard for the transmission of digital audio like the xlr connector was adopted for analog audio in live sound systems, this is really going to be a problem.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB extensioncordsand OnStage Stand mic stands.

Now the offer is set to end.  The last day for a qualifying purchase is March 31.

This offer is part of a larger campaign that Duracell has developed to promote its sponsorship of the 2012 Olympic games in London this summer.

Their latest effort, “Rely On Copper To Go For The Gold” will feature athletes in training for the London games.  The elite athletes will share their personal stories and appear in video and print ads that let the world know what it takes to make the Olympics.

You can see some of these athletes in training at the Duracell Youtube Channel, and don’t forget about the gift card promotion.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB extensioncordsand OnStage Stand mic stands.

One of the worst audio connectors ever invented appears to the the one that will last until the end of time.  That’s the quarter inch connector.

This common audio connector dates back to the 19th century when telephone switchboards were first created, and it is almost unchanged in today’s version.  It is a two or three conductor connector and is used on millions of musical instruments and audio components.

The way the male version of this connector is designed to mate with the female version means that the center “hot” (signal carrying) conductor must touch and “short out” with the sleeve “cold” (ground carrying) conductor in order to be completely connected.  This almost always results in a loud popping noise in an energized audio system and may cause speaker or amplifier damage.

The standard version of this connector has no latching mechanism, so it is easy to unplug an instrument by accidentally stepping on the cable or tangling it up.

The reason that this connector will probably survive forever is that it is the standard that was adopted for electric guitars.  Because vintage guitars and vintage amplifiers are in such demand by today’s musicians, it means that the quarter inch standard must survive.

Otherwise, a guitar player with a collector’s edition guitar couldn’t use a new amplifier or a player with a new guitar couldn’t plug in to a vintage amp.

Unfortunately, this bad piece of design is with us forever.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB extensioncords and OnStage Stand mic stands.

The teleprompter tech was the last to show up, got to spend his time working directly with the corporate executives, and had his gear packed up and was on his way to the airport an hour after the show was over.  It might have not been the most exciting job in show business, but it definitely was the easiest.

I came across a new application for the IPAD today that puts a whole teleprompter into a brief case. Using the Ipad with some proprietary software and something as simple as a microphone stand, anybody can create a prompter on their own.

Even better, you can download a free app from the Apple Store and with a piece of glass, you can make your own for about $5.00.  It even makes use of the IPAD box!

And, of course, you’ll need duct tape.

Here’s a video that shows you how.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB extensioncordsand OnStage Stand mic stands.

One of the things that was most enjoyable about the show was how video was used.  The Wrecking Ball tour reverted to “old school” image magnification, something that used to be the industry standard, but which has been replaced by flashy active screens.

The three projection screens just magnified (made larger) the images of of the performers. No video inserts, no airplanes landings, no man on the street interviews, just the show made larger.

Best of all, it did nothing to call attention to itself.  The screens were not  the overly bright, in-your-face active screens that demand that you look at them, sometimes in a way that completely washes out the performer.  Best of all, because the images were projections, they made use of very high resolution video, giving detail that active L E D screens are not capable of delivering.  All image and no pixels.

We tip our hat to the set designer, and Pete’s Big TV’s, the video production company, for a job well done.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB extensioncords and OnStage Stand mic stands.

The larger and more prominent the site, the less likely it is that phone contact will be an option.  Even though it can be terribly irritating, I understand why.  Let me explain.

I’m an internet content creator.  I spend most of my day adding content to our web sites to provide what we hope is useful information to customers and prospects.  That includes detailed explanations, product specifications and comparisons and “how to” animations and tips. We’ve been at it long enough that we feel that our sites far outstrip our competitors when it comes to providing information that supports what we sell.

We are blessed that most our sites do well in what is called “organic” search, which means that they show up in search results when you seek out products and information using standard search protocols.  If you search for something like “gaffers tape” or “Procell battery“, you’ll always see our sites on page 1.

For some people, finding us through search simply means that they look no further than the phone number.  Rather than take time to look through the site using a very powerful built in search function, they just reach for the phone.  Almost without exception, there is a more useful and illustrative answer to their question on the site than anything I could possibly tell them on the phone.  Every time I get one of these calls, I’m tempted to bury our phone number more deeply in the site (or at least no longer make it toll free!).

Oh, and while we’re on the subject.  When you send us an online request for our catalog, how about including your mailing address.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB extensioncordsand OnStage Stand mic stands.

However, one thing that I have noticed that is a real problem is the difficulty they all seem to have with eye contact.  If  there is any sort of a screen present (computer, tablet, smart phone, laptop, whatever) they almost always prefer to watch the screen rather than to look at me.

While I’m the first to admit that I’m not much to look at, I don’t think that these young people realize the potential cost of failing to look at the person who is speaking to them.  If I have a promotion or pay raise, a better assignment, or a little bit of useful knowledge to pass along,  they are much less likely to get their hands on it if they can’t look me in the eye.

Regardless of how much time they spend in some sort of virtual world, the young person who takes the time to  understand the power of looking at someone when they are speaking to them has a very useful skill and, potentially, a strong competitive advantage.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB extensioncords and OnStage Stand mic stands.

I think that Apple is missed their opportunity and this will never happen.

I remember how excited my family was when we got our first high definition tv.  I hooked up a computer, interfaced a dvd player and our old vcr, subscribed to satellite tv and installed an antenna on the roof to get broadcast HD programs. We even have surround sound with a sub-woofer!

The thing hasn’t been on in weeks and I can’t remember the last time either of my kids sat down in the family room to watch television.

It is clear that they would all rather watch whatever they are watching on their laptops, their smart phones or their IPads.  The ability to watch what they want, when they want to, and wherever they are is clearly much more valuable than a big screen, good quality audio, and a high definition image.

That is not going to change, and no matter how “smart” and interconnected an Apple television might be, they are too late.

And the high definition tv in our family room  that cost $900.  You can now by a comparable unit for $199!

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and HB  extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. Need an extension cord for your obsolete big screen tv?  We got ‘em!

This is a great way to be reminded to take care of this simple, but critical domestic task twice of the year.

We also tip our hat to First Alert (maker of smoke detectors) and Duracell, who have partnered to give away 100 smoke detectors with Duracell batteries as part of the campaign to change your detector batteries this weekend.

You can learn more about the giveaway by going to Facebook and searching for “Duracell”.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and Entertainment One extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. Click here for smoke detector batteries.

It is good to see that line array speaker cabinet technology is now widely embraced by system installers (both new and upgrades) and the overall improvement in sound quality is quickly evident.

What is also evident, unfortunately, is how ugly many of these installations are, especially those that are retrofitted into existing spaces.

I can understand how an installer (i used to do sound system installations myself) might think that a half dozen black speaker cabinets hung against a white or light colored background might look “beautiful”.  After all, he probably risked life and limb in a personnel lift to get the system in place and knows that the sound in the room has been dramatically improved.

How difficult would it have been to paint the new cabinets in a matching or complementary color?  Apparently, pretty difficult, since nobody does it.

I realize that I’m not just talking about a can of Krylon spray paint here, but the results of a good quality paint job can pay off for years.  A smart installer knows that he can gain a competitive advantage at bid opening time if his proposal is the only one that takes how the new speaker hang will look when the install is finished.

Metal speaker grills instead of fabric and recessed rigging hardware and connector plates both make doing a quality paint job easier and there is inexpensive spary equipment on the market that is easy to use.

Next time you are listening to one of these “in your face” sound system installations, close your eyes for a minute and see how much better it would sound if you could just hear it instead of seeing it.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and Entertainment One extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. We are proud to feature speaker cables from Mitee Cables.

Now, it appears that Google is ready to put their ability to serve up truly relevant search content on the shelf in favor of providing search results that are tempered by what our friends may have searched for or what we may have looked for in the past.

This is Google’s latest attempt to take on Facebook in an arena that Facebook owns, and lots of Google users are unhappy about it.

Instead of seeing information that the internet as a whole values because of the quality of the content (what is on the page and who links to it) you are more likely to see results based on your friends and colleagues have searched for.

I like my friends, but they are not who I normally choose to turn to when I want the kind of search results I used to get on Google.  They are good people, but I don’t think of them as primary resources for the kind of information I am usually seeking.

What might be even more important is that Google has been quiet about what they are doing.  Most people don’t realize that their search results might be very different than someone across the office or in the next dorm room.

The result of this change in Google’s search code,  something that might well be called “Facebook envy” has reminded me that there are lots of other useful search engines available that now better meet my needs.

Google needs to get back to what made them so successful in the first place.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and Entertainment One extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. We are proud to feature extension cords from Hosatech.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

The use of electric space heaters with inadequate size extension cords or cables in poor condition creates a situation ripe for disaster.

Use of a cable too small for the amount of power that the heater draws means that much of the electricity consumed goes to heat generated in the extension cord, not in the heater.  Tucking the “too small” cord under a rug or behind a piece of furniture creates all the elements needed to start a house fire.

Extension cords in poor condition-frayed jackets, broken connectors, kinked cable-double the risk, as they can create both overheating and electric shock hazards.

If you use electric heaters, click here for a guide to choosing the correct size cable.

Click here for some tips on keeping your extension cords in good condition.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and Entertainment One extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. We are proud to feature extension cords from Hosatech.

Today, Dec. 29, has been proposed as boycott Godaddy day, and thousands of customers are threatening to leave Godaddy in the dust and move their hosting and registrar accounts to someone else.

H.R. 3261, the Congressional bill, is bad legislation and threatens to remake the internet at its core.  It would allow a major transfer of internet control to a few major players and allow those who claim control of digital intellectual property to shut down small time web sites without due process.

We currently have in excess of three hundred domains registered with Godaddy and use them to host many of our sites.  We’re ready to see them in our rear view mirror if they don’t step up and get this right, and do it quickly. If  you are a Godaddy customer and want to put pressure on them to stand up and fight for their customers, give them a call at 480-505-8877.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and Entertainment One extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. We are proud to feature extension cords from Hosatech.  We believe that a free and open internet is the key to job growth, economic development and more opportunity for everyone.

Particularly dangerous are the small “button” type batteries that power many toys and electronic devices.  They are small enough for a child to easily put into their mouth and they look just enough like something edible to make this scenario a likelihood.

Look for toys that have a screw cover for the battery compartment that can only be opened with a small screw driver and make sure that the door is securely latched before giving the toy to the child.

Check to see if the batteries are already installed in the device.  Toys that have loose batteries in the packaging are particularly dangerous, since they can be overlooked when the package is opened and then found later by the child.

Finally, double check to make sure that there are no spare batteries included with the device.  What might seem like a generous act by the manufacturer demands extra diligence on the part of the parent in order to make sure spares go into a safe storage location.

Wishing you and yours a joyous season from The Good Buy Guys.  You can see your holiday greeting by clicking here.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and Entertainment One extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. We are prod to feature extension cords from Hosatech.  Our Duracell Procell batteries are the real thing and we sell them “Satisfaction Guaranteed”.

This is not news in itself, but the willingness of these CEO’s to make a commitment to have a program in place in 2013 is a very positive development.

The presidents of Duracell, Energizer, Kodak, Rayovac and Panasonic began discussions in 2010 regarding getting a nationwide recycling program in place and now finally seem willing to commit to a date for a program roll out.

Certainly, the logistics and science in getting a program into place are complicated, but it is hard to see how plans and discussions could be going into their fourth year.

We would love to be able to point our customers towards a reliable recycling option in their community, regardless of where they live.

Check back here and also at Recyclebattery.org to track their progress.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and Entertainment One extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. We are prod to feature extension cords from Hosatech.  Our Duracell Procell batteries are the real thing and we sell them “Satisfaction Guaranteed”.

Importers and unscrupulous retailers can dramatically boost their bottom line by taking a low quality battery and rebranding/repainting it with the graphics from a more expensive brand.

It can be difficult to spot a counterfeit, but here are a few clues.

All major battery manufcaturers (Duracell, Procell, Everready, etc.) always include an expiration date printed directly on the battery.  Counterfeits often don’t include this info so that the product will have a longer perceived shelf life

Quality painting on a round surface is an expensive process.  Batteries that have a brand name but low resolution graphics are probably bogus.

Major manufacturers control their distribution chain carefully.  It is highly unlikely that someone selling batteries on a street corner in a large city is part of this chain.  Batteries sold this way are usually counterfeits.

Counterfeit batteries will not only have a shorter life than the real thing, but are more prone to leak acid which can quickly destroy expensive electronics and can be a serious health hazard if it gets on your skin or in your eyes.

Legitimate branded batteries are more expensive for a good reason.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and Entertainment One extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. We are prod to feature extension cords from Hosatech.  Our Duracell Procell batteries are the real thing and we sell them “Satisfaction Guaranteed”.

There is no single better winter-proofing product than a roll of duct tape.  Duct tape is both sticky and malleable, so it is ideal for patching small, hard to reach air leaks.  Whether around a window, along a foundation, or in your attic, a strip or two of duct tape can quickly pay for the whole roll in heating savings.

Modern duct tape is available in lots of colors which make it much easier to match interior paint and exterior siding.

While it won’t last forever, the coating and adhesive of good quality duct tape will last the winter and the vinyl backing creates a seal that both stops air flow and repels water.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Permacel gaffers tape,Duracell Procell batteries,  Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Hosa and Entertainment One extension cords and OnStage Stand mic stands. We are your source for high quality Nashua 398 duct tape.