Alarm Contracts-What you need to know.

If you read the reviews of various national alarm monitoring companies, you will quickly realize that the fairly small number of reviews out there for every one are overwhelmingly negative. The reality is the overwhelming majority of customers are happy, and happy customers take their alarm for granted and typically do not write reviews. The most common reason stated by the consumer is almost always something along the lines of, "It was costly to cancel because I was still under contract." 

All alarm companies that provide equipment with no up front cost require a contract-usually 3 years. (Although 2-5 years is the range) This is to recover the costs they've incurred for equipment and installation. All of these contracts are auto-renewing for a period of time if the customer does not proactively cancel with a minimum of the industry standard 30 days notice prior to the initial agreement being up. This is usually outlined by a representative for a reputable alarm company at the time the initial paperwork is signed. 

Typically the first document you will sign is the "Notice of Cancellation." This document outlines the fact that your alarm contract will not be in effect until three business days after the alarm is installed and activated. This is to give you a period of time to proactively cancel without penalty or obligation if you object to any part of the transaction. Once this period of time has passed, you are locked into the terms of the contract including any early termination fees. 

If the person you are signing paperwork with does not take the time to go over the pertinent details of the contract with you, then you need to take thoroughly review the contract within your 3 business day cancellation window to ensure you understand the agreement and can cancel if you object to the terms. 

I personally use Central Security Group for monitoring the contract systems I install. I chose Central because they require every new contract customer sign a "No Secrets" document that clearly outlines the terms of the agreement in plain English so there is no room for any misinterpretation on the part of the consumer. I go over this document in detail with each and every customer. Not every alarm company has a "No Secrets" form, but all will have the full terms of the contract printed on the agreement itself. Read each document and make sure it is clarified to your satisfaction before you sign.  

If you do not wish to be under contract, you always have the option of purchasing equipment and installation up front. You can then engage monitoring services on a month to month basis with a monitoring center that offers short or no contract service. This option involves a large out-of-pocket expense, but leaves you without the long term contractual obligation. Be prepared that the most basic alarm system in a modest home with installation is going to start in the $800-$1000 range.  If you live in a large residence, or add items you want to make your house fully secure and the cost could easily climb significantly higher. Compare this to a typical three year contract and you'll find that signing a contract is often cheaper overall. 

As a consumer, you should weigh your options and make an informed decision based on the facts. You ultimately have the power to decide what is in your best fiscal interest. Read contracts, ask questions and walk away from anything that doesn't "feel" right. 

I'm shopping for an alarm system...What are my options?

I get this question regularly. "I want to help protect my family, I'm interested in electronic home security. Where do I start?" There are several factors that determine the answer to this question. My intent with this posting is to simplify the options available and make it possible for you to make an informed decision.

Step 1: Which business model is right for me? 

DSC PowerSeries 

There are really only two business models in the electronic security industry. The traditional model of purchasing equipment and installation from a reputable local custom alarm company is alive, well and highly recommended if your budget allows it. You can easily expect to pay from $1500-$2000 for a traditional basic consumer grade burglary system in a medium sized home. The more areas you want protected, the more you can expect to pay for equipment and labor.

GE Concord IV

This will typically be a "hard wired" or "hybrid" system that uses a separate panel box and keypad. Wireless devices may supported 'on-board' as is the case with the GE Concord or may require the addition of a wireless transceiver.  Typical panels used are the Honeywell/Ademco Vista/Via Series, GE/ITI Concord Series and DSC PowerSeries.

Honeywell Ademco Vista 20P

In this scenario the installing custom alarm company is usually who provides the monitoring-either at their own in house facility or by contract with a national monitoring provider. In the Chattanooga, TN/North GA market the type of services described here are available from Action Alarms, Dependable Security, PM Alarms and ADT Corporate. Please note that I do not specifically endorse any of these companies. Plenty of information is available online to help you determine whether the alarm provider you have chosen is reputable.

GE Simon XT Wireless All-in-one panel

The second choice is the alarm dealer business model. Typically alarm dealers provide basic systems at little or no up front cost in exchange for a specified contract term, commonly 2-3 years. Usually a minimum credit score is required. The ads you see for a $99 system are typically alarm dealer ads. The monitoring is provided by a national monitoring company such as ADT or Monitronics. The systems initially offered are usually wireless all-in-one systems such as the Honeywell Lynx Series, GE/ITI Simon series and DSC Impassa series. Wireless all-in-one units have the keypad, sounder, panel circuitry and wireless transceiver all in one self contained unit. The installer simply has to set up a connection to power and to phone and mount it on the wall. Hard-wired and hybrid systems are also offered with no up front cost by reputable dealers to customers with an existing system of this type.

DSC Impassa Wireless All-in-one panel

Alarm dealers make their money by selling the monitoring contracts to a national alarm monitoring company. This action makes you direct customer of the national monitoring company and effectively removes the dealer from the transaction-usually after your unit has been installed for 90 days.  If you require service, the national company can at their option send a technician from the installing dealer, another dealer or one of their own corporate technicians.

Honeywell  Lynx/QuickConnect Plus

                           













Here are the main bullet points of comparison:


 Custom Alarm Company 
* Up front cost for equipment                                                                                                              
*  Hard wired or hybrid system                                                    
*  Short or no monitoring contract                                                


Alarm Dealer

 *  Little or no up-front cost

 *  New installs will usually be a Wireless system

 *  2-3 year monitoring contract

Now you have the basic information to make an informed choice about purchasing an alarm system. 

Stay tuned for the next segment!

Bob Seger Burglary-Family, Friends and Alarm Systems

Bob Seger's house in Orchard Lake, Michigan was broken into last August and his prized 1978 Gibson Les Paul guitar, and personal valuables such as cash, a Rolex watch and autographed Shaquille O'Neal Sneakers were all stolen.

The suspect arrested Tuesday and charged with larceny from a building was identified as 20 year old Andrew D. Thompson of Waterford Township, MI-a close family friend. Police say Thompson attended a party thrown by Seger's 16 year old daughter last August and broke into the house afterwards to pilfer the items. The 1978 Les Paul is seen in Seger's hands on the cover of his 1994 "Greatest Hits" album. Its retail value is approximately $8000-$10,000 but it was reportedly 'priceless' to Seger.  

Interestingly, that guitar all of a sudden appeared later in Seger’s backyard.

Thompson denies stealing the guitar although Detective Darrell Betts said it turned up right after he questioned Thompson about the incident.

Betts also suggested Thompson broke into the back door after the small party had ended to steal the items.

The story:
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/bob-seger-house-burglarized-family-friend-arrested/

This heartbreaking scenario is all too common. Very often people are burglarized by a friend, relative, or coworker. A substantial percentage of burglaries are committed by persons that have been inside your home that you trusted implicitly.

A burglar alarm system could have helped prevent this tragedy by alerting the authorities and Seger of the intrusion. Remarkably, apparently no burglar alarm was present or the alarm was not in use because Seger was reportedly moving.

Of course the best home security system in the world can be defeated by poor management of the alarm code(s). Only people who absolutely need access to your home should have an alarm code and the corresponding telephone "safe word" password.

You should also regularly change your alarm code to ensure that access to your home stays controlled. If you have a maid service or babysitter that needs access to the residence-give them a separate "user" code that will only disarm the alarm-NOT your "Master" code that can be used to access system settings. Many security companies also allow you to track online when and what code is used-which can help in the event a theft is discovered without a break in.

I will be happy to answer any questions regarding home security. You can contact me at acoker@ctshomesecurity.com

Alarm Monitoring-Why the cost varies wildly.

As a security industry professional I have had the opportunity to work with multiple alarm companies and their central stations. A central station is the location where your alarm signals are received and processed for dispatch. Large national brands such as ADT and Monitronics own and operate their own central station locations. Your local alarm company may have their own central station-but this is not as common as it used to be. It is far more likely that a larger dedicated monitoring company provides this service to many smaller alarm companies-including yours. 

Now for the facts that every consumer should know-All reputable monitoring companies provide essentially the same service. You read that correctly. It doesn't matter whether your monitoring is provided by a large national brand or a smaller regional operation so long as you are doing business with a reputable company. This brings me to my next shocker-The price you pay for monitoring has almost no bearing whatsoever on the quality of service you receive. 


So, you ask, "Why is my monitoring so much higher than my neighbor's?" This is a perfectly legitimate question and there are multiple reasons why this could be.

If you signed up for a 'FREE w/ $99 installation fee' system then your monitoring cost will be higher because the monthly fee includes the amortized cost of the equipment. In this scenario, monitoring will typically range from $30 -$100/ month depending on the amount of equipment you received at the time of install.

The alarm industry national dealers borrowed this business model from cell phone providers, who figured out long ago that offering a 'free' or reduced cost phone with a 2-3 year contractual commitment sold better and substantially increased their business. This due to the fact that most people live paycheck to paycheck and can't come up with the $800-$1500 an average basic residential alarm installation costs-but they can easily budget the monthly expense.

If you purchased your equipment at the time of install, or you have completed your contract with a national company you own the equipment outright. You can purchase monitoring on a month to month basis as a separate service and comparison shop. You will find options ranging from $15-$50 for basic monitoring services depending on whether you are communicating your signals with a telephone line, a GSM (alarm cellular communicator), or a Wi-Fi or IP communicator. 

Whichever way you choose to purchase an alarm system, once you experience the peace of mind of having an electronic security system, you will never choose to live without one again. Feel free to contact me via email with your questions.

Home Automation-The Alarm Industry and the future...What's in it for me?

Electronic security has exploded in the last several years with All-In-One wireless systems making security installations easy and convenient for homeowners with existing construction. Wireless panels typically give you the option of an on-board GSM (or cellular) unit which makes the installation even easier because no phone wire needs to be pulled to the demarc location to complete the install. The additional monthly monitoring cost for a cellular unit averages $12 or so with the national brand alarm companies. This is more than offset by most customers simply by eliminating the now largely unnecessary land line phone in favor of using a mobile, resulting in a net savings for the customer. The proliferation of GSM units has a further benefit because you are now fully prepared for the sunset of analog P.O.T.S (Plain Old Telephone Service) land lines the telco industry is pushing for. This could happen as soon as 2014.

In addition on board GSM units installed in an all-in-one wireless panel can be used in internet connected households in conjunction with an enabled central station to allow the alarm panel status to be monitored from internet connected devices such as smart phones, tablets and notebook computers. The user can arm and disarm the system and get text notifications for any event the user desires. (This could be a disarm event when a child gets home for example.)

More recently alarm panels have become more capable still. Thanks to wireless Z-wave technology you can use a modern touch screen wireless all-in-one alarm panel to control thermostats, lights, door locks and monitor IP video cameras.  You can hop on your iPhone or iPad or similar Android device before you leave the office, check your cameras, turn on your air conditioner and lights. Once you get home you can disarm the alarm and unlock the door from the same device! These new systems give the customer conveniences and peace of mind. As of this writing, basic home automation has been made affordable for the masses via the integration of home automation technology into security systems.

ADT (Pulse) and Vivint (Home Automation Package) are among the national brands offering modern streamlined touch screen panels with all of the features mentioned above. There is typically some up-front cost involved for equipment and/or installation fees. The monitoring of systems with home automation can be more than double the cost of standard home security monitoring. A typical basic home-automation and security system has an up-front cost of about $200, and a recurring monthly cost of approximately $70/month on a 36 month monitoring agreement that includes an IP camera, a wireless thermostat, light control modules and wireless door locks.

Honeywell Lynx Touch is used by ADT Pulse

2Gig's Go is used by Vivint Home Automation

These technologies will ensure the relevance of electronic home security in the future. If you haven't seen this technology in action, check out www.adtpulse.com  or www.vivint.com. You'll be glad you did.

A customer question-Replacing a door.

While driving between installs, I received a call from a gentleman from Harahan, LA. he obtained my contact number from this blog and contacted me to ask a question.  His question was a common one and I felt it would be good to share the answer in case others encounter this issue.

He had replaced his sliding glass door with outward opening french doors and in the process the existing door contact was damaged. His alarm is a standard Honeywell hard wired alarm system. He correctly acted to bypass the missing door contact so he could continue to arm the remaining alarm sensors. His alarm company quoted him $165 for the part and to send a technician out to install the replacement. Their reason included the technician 'programming' the new door contact. The customer wanted to know if he could obtain a hard wired door contact and replace the sensor himself. The short answer is probably yes.

Flush Mount Hard Wired Door Contacts

Prior to calling me, this customer had correctly surmised that since a hard wired door contact is essentially a type of magnetic switch that reprogramming the alarm would likely not be necessary. He is correct. If you replace an existing door contact with a similar contact normally no further programming is necessary. You must verify that everything functions after replacement and also that you are satisfied with the current zone number and/or description.

Recessed Hard Wired Door Contacts

You can obtain flush mount or recessed door contacts from a security or electronics supply store in your local area. These type of stores are geared to supply the low-voltage professional but are usually open to the general public also. Hard wired door contacts are inexpensive. The Honeywell variety this gentleman preferred typically are priced at $10-$15 per piece.

Installation is simply a matter of attaching the new contact to the existing wire and securing it with a low voltage electrical 'B-connector' also called a 'beanie' or 'crimp.' Secure the flush mount door contact and magnet to the door with the supplied screws. At this point you should be able to go to your keypad, remove the bypass from the zone and your new contact should function normally. A simple test is to turn on your door chimes and pull the door open and closed a few times. Each time you should hear the door chime beeping. Next arm your alarm normally, exit, wait a few minutes and re-enter and disarm.  If all of these tests are successful, it is most likely that your door contact will continue to function perfectly with your alarm.

This customer had this alarm for several years and his system was no longer covered by a warranty or maintenance plan. If your system is under a warranty or maintenance plan with your alarm manufacturer or monitoring company you should check with them first to ascertain your options. It is entirely possible that a DIY repair may be unnecessary.  If you have a maintenance plan to cover this repair-you may only have to pay a small one-time cost. It is also worth noting that a DIY repair could void your existing manufacturers or monitoring company warranty. In all cases you assume liability for any functional changes to your alarm system that you make on your own. 

R.I.P P.O.T.S...Telephone as we knew it.

Chances are if you have an alarm system your primary communication to your monitoring central station is through P.O.T.S lines. This is an acronym for Plain Old Telephone Service. This is the old fashioned two-wire ring and tip, positive and negative copper wire plug in phone connection. This type of connection has reliably provided voice telephony services to the masses in this country since the dawn of the 20th century.

Those of us with a little age on us recall the days when Ma Bell ran everything and everyone had the plain black or ivory tabletop rotary phone that weighed a ton and could cave a man's head in if used as a blunt force weapon. Dialing was accomplished by rotary pulse dialing. This remained the standard until phone company deregulation began to accelerate the adoption of newer technologies. I'm old enough to remember how exciting Touch tone dialing was when first began to be adopted by the masses. Caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, three way calling and telco issued voicemail would all follow in quick succession. All of this was delivered on copper trunk lines-many of which had been in place for decades. The peak of standard land-line telephony had been reached. The dawn of the internet age would undo all of that in a few short years.

Initially, computers were connected to the internet by dialing up through these same P.O.T.S lines. The max speed of 56K/sec quickly proved to be too slow for customers who found themselves wishing to download music and watch streaming video. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) allowed the customer to access a faster internet...once again through the aging P.O.T.S infrastructure. DSLwould quickly find itself in competition with other faster internet services, and the telcos themselves threatened by mobile phones supplanting landlines and a multitude of other home phone options.

The Cable television companies began running fiber-optic infrastructure into cities and towns in the mid to late nineties. This allowed cable providers to provide blazing fast cable internet, access to hundreds of digital television channels and most importantly-begin to provide home phone service. These 'triple threat' packages greatly increased the market share of cable companies because consumers could now get television video quality that rivaled mini dish satellite with fewer signal problems, reliable home telephone service, and blazing fast internet.

Cable's sudden lunge in market share forced the telcos to change their approach. AT&T began modernizing their infrastructure to digital so they could offer faster DSL and also provide television through a new service they dubbed U-Verse. The result is that many areas now have access to this service or a similar service from another large telco.

The sticking point for alarm companies has been the digital communicator device common to all alarm panels. This device was designed to pick up a standard P.O.T.S line and transmit a digital packet of information to the Alarm Central Station. The cable phone and internet phone providers such asVonage use Voice over IP (or VoIP) technology. This technology is designed to convert a human voice to a data packet and back again. It has proven unreliable in converting alarm data signals to VoIP data packets and back again. It may work 100 times in a row and fail when it really counts.

Further complicating the issue is the stage is now set for the next step-eliminating P.O.T.S lines altogether. This could happen as early as 2014. The FCC is currently examining how to sunset out of existence the remaining PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and POTS lines. AT&T in particular is lobbying hard for this 2014 deadline because they have much of the infrastructure backbone in place to capitalize on this seismic shift.

Telguard's radios are an excellent option for primary or secondary alarm communication

So now the inevitable question-"How does all this affect me?" If you are using an alarm panel that is monitored by a central station via telephone lines you will have to switch to another method of communication. Options include a GSM  radio/cellular alarm communicator or an IP based internet communicator. Both of these options are available today and are reliable alternatives to P.O.T.S.

I recommend making an existing account radio primary. This typically costs $150-$200 for the cellular alarm communicator plus an additional average monthly cost of $12 for cellular data transmission. I further recommend disconnecting your land line service-chances are you seldom use it anyway. Prepare for the switch by having your security company install a cellular alarm communicator. This presents a net monthly savings that quickly covers the up-front costs because you are replacing a $30-$40 monthly expense with a $12 monthly expense. In addition, you are prepared for the upcoming sunset of P.O.T.S lines because you have a technology that will continue to work after 2014.

What else is there?

Another common question is, "What else is there?" Once a homeowner has a burglar alarm installed, there are other devices that can be added to further protect your home and family. Here are some examples:


Monitored Smoke/Heat/Fire Detector(s)-These to me should not be optional. Consider having at least one monitored fire point added to your home alarm at the time of installation. These devices will trigger an audible fire alarm and notify the monitoring station to dispatch the fire department whether you are home or not. Typically the point of installation is a great time to get a bargain while the technician is already in your home programming and installing your other devices.

Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detector(s)-Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that has been called "The Silent Killer." Sources of Carbon Monoxide poisoning include malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, ranges, water heaters and gas and kerosene room heaters; engine-powered equipment such as portable generators; fireplaces; and charcoal that is burned indoors. The symptoms of Carbon Monoxide toxicity are flu-like and as a result 170 Americans die each year from CO poisoning. Another 500 are hospitalized and treated for serious Carbon Monoxide toxicity. A monitored Carbon Monoxide detector will sound an audible alarm when CO reaches toxic levels and also notify the monitoring central station so you can be notified if you are not home.

Light Control Modules-These devices allow you to control selected home lights from your alarm panel. Some light control module systems also incorporate this functionality into a key fob remote control that is also used to arm and disarm the system.

Audio Verification Module(s)-Adds two-way voice capability to hard wired alarm panels. Typically all-in-one wireless units have this capability built in.

Window Contacts or Glass Break detectors?

This is a common question from homeowners. Should I install contacts on my windows or install acoustic glass break detectors? Or both?  The answer depends on the specific needs and budget of the homeowner.

Window contacts and glass break devices are both 'perimeter' devices. This means these devices are intended to sound the alarm instantly when the perimeter of your home is breached and/or entered by an unauthorized person or persons. Statistically, 85% of home burglars enter through a door. The proliferation of decorative and window glass in exterior doors has made this route easy and practical for a burglar. Still, windows continue to be used for entry in residential burglaries and window security should always be considered when choosing the components of your intrusion alarm system.


The default installation model for many years has been door contacts on all doors, window contacts on any ground floor windows with motion sensors as a backup system in the home to sound the alarm by detecting unauthorized movement. The known flaw of using window contacts is that the window must be opened to sound the alarm. A savvy crook can simply knock all of the glass out of the window frame before entering-without opening the window or triggering the perimeter burglar alarm. This allows an intruder into your home forcing you to rely on an alarm triggered by a backup device such as a passive infrared motion detector.  A properly installed glass break detector eliminates this issue because it will sound the alarm immediately when the specific sound pattern of glass breaking is detected-before the burglar gains entrance.

Glass breaks are an excellent complement to any burglar alarm system and should be used anytime you have large panes of fixed glass such as picture windows or a sun room. Glass breaks can be a cost effective alternative to window contacts in rooms with 2-3 or more windows or in newer residences with large and wide open common areas. Older residences with small rooms, compact hallways and 1-2 windows in each room may require multiple glass break detectors which may be less cost effective. In a budget constrained situation, window contacts are then recommended with glass breaks in the 'hot spots' or areas most likely to be broken into. A professional security technician can advise you what is best for your home and budget.

Pictured here is a typical wireless acoustic glass break device. These are wall mountable and the typical models can hear glass breaking in an unobstructed 20'-35' 180 degree arc. This device cannot hear through walls or through structural obstructions so each one must be mounted in a room or living area with the front and sides of the detector unobstructed. Acoustic glass breaks trigger the alarm by 'hearing' the sound of glass breaking.



This device is a typical round hard wired glass break detector. These are usually ceiling mounted in the room or area you desire glass break protection.  These also trigger the burglar alarm by 'hearing' the sound of glass breaking.

Window contacts operate when a magnet is separated from the body of the contact by the physical act of opening the window. These can be hard wired or wireless. The hard wired contacts pictured here are typically used for windows and doors.

I welcome your thoughts and concerns. Feel free to contact me at (504) 383-4234 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (504) 383-4234      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Hard wired or wireless? Hybrid? How to decide.

Its no secret that hard wired intrusion alarms have been the standard for homes and commercial businesses for the last 40 years. In a hard wired system, every contact or "zone" is connected via a physical wire to the alarm panel itself-which resembles an electrical breaker box with a circuit board mounted inside. This requires pulling a great deal of wire through walls up into an attic or down into a crawl space to ultimately connect to the alarm panel which is typically located in the attic or in the closet of a residence. These systems typically have a separate sounder and keypad wired to them. The sounder is mounted at a central location and the keypad typically is mounted at a central household location or near an entrance. This type of alarm can be prewired during new construction, which saves a great deal of time for the installer-who can then install the alarm easily without having to pull new wire through finished walls. These systems remain the standard for commercial installations...but things are changing in our industry for residential customers. Residential customers now have the option of wireless all-in-one panels.

Wireless all-in-one systems such as GE's Simon XT eliminate the need to pull wires for zones and separate keypad and sounder during a new installation.  This makes these systems an excellent choice for a homeowner choosing a new alarm installation These units have the keypad, alarm panel and sounder as all one unit-which is wired only to a telephone line and AC power. The sensors or 'zones' are equipped with battery powered transmitters that allow the panel to supervise each zone and trigger the alarm in the event of a break in. When installed and maintained properly, these units are every bit as effective at reporting intrusion to the alarm monitoring central station as hardwired units. The advantage to a homeowner is these systems can be installed and activated in as little as 90 minutes when installed by a professional alarm technician. These units can be obtained for as little as a few hundred dollars-or even for no up front cost when a $35.99/mo for 36 month monitoring agreement is activated. 

These days hard wired panels have come of age and many have the ability to communicate via wireless to sensors as well as through wire to hard wired zones. These systems are called 'Hybrid' systems.
GE's Concord IV is a hybrid alarm panel that is an excellent choice for a homeowner with an existing hard wired alarm. Usually existing wiring and in many cases existing sensors can be utilized with the new panel, allowing you to retain usage of equipment you own-having invested your hard earned dollars. New wireless zones can be added easily to expand the functionality of your alarm without having to drill holes or run more wires. A Concord IV with up to six brand new zones can be yours for no up front cost also if you have an existing hard wired intrusion alarm and elect 36 months of monitoring at $35.99/month. The panels are swapped, the old equipment connected and tested; and new equipment installed. This type of job is called a 'takeover' and represents the best deal for someone replacing an existing hard wired alarm.

Whatever you decide, hard wired, or wireless, choose a professional alarm technician to do the work and a reputable monitoring provider. I welcome your questions and comments. Drop me a comment or give me a call at (504) 383-4234.

Please allow me to introduce myself...

I am a security technician by trade. I install and service home intrusion alarms in homes and commercial businesses. Every day I routinely talk to customers who have common questions and misconceptions about burglar alarms. This blog is my way of empowering the public with information that you can use to decide which options are best for you. I will post regularly with different topics. I look forward to hearing from you all!

Algiers Memories

New Orleans. The siren's song in my heart. The one place I feel completely at home. When I finally get across the high rise after the inevitable I-10 slowdown beginning at Crowder Blvd I feel a sense of inner tranquility that is beyond explanation. No other place on earth gives me this feeling. Its as if my soul knows this is where I belong.

While I am away I miss everything...the incredible Creole food, the incomparable Jazz, Rhythm and Blues and Funk music; the inspiring ironwork on the narrow streets of the French Quarter; the bougainvillea growing on balconies everywhere; the tunnel of ancient live oaks visible from the St Charles Avenue streetcar; the the art and architecture; the gritty, funky soul of this truly unique and amazing city-my home town.

My home turf is the 15^th Ward...Algiers... aka 'Da West Bank.' This makes me an 'Algerian' or 'Algerene.' I lived on a dead end street called Evergreen Ave which carves a straight line perpendicular to the Crescent City Connection from the wide thoroughfare under the bridge I knew as Bringier St. From the dead end you could see Semmes St and the tombs of McDonoghville Cemetery. Since the late 90's, the former Bringier St under the bridge has been renamed Mardi Gras Blvd.

I loved the warm spring nights...I would walk from my home on Evergreen toward the bridge; turn left and follow Magellan across the busy Franklin Avenue, past the little Horseshoe Grocery all the way to Madison, to the railroad yard and the river levee. At Madison, in the shadow of the bridge, you could walk right up to the train tracks and closely inspect the tank and freight cars sitting idle. Maneuvering in a zig zag fashion through the idled train cars to the river levee I would walk along and watch the towboats and barges move up and downriver. I also watched the steady stream of bridge and ferry traffic crossing from East Bank home to the West. This was my time for introspection.

Revisiting "The Storm."

I've been hard at work this past week going through my backlog of post Katrina pictures of New Orleans. I have a large collection of images that I have been carefully sorting and selecting the best ones for digital editing into photo artwork. I have utilized my own photography and the photography of others for this purpose. Of course I wanted images that illustrated the heartbreak, but I also wanted to include images that were both unique and hopeful. I believe I have been successful. Several of these were taken by my man Bart Everson in early 2006. He has graciously provided me with a creative commons license to edit these into art work and post them for public consumption as I see fit. Thanks!

                            213 N. Salcedo St Mid City. An utterly devastated shotgun house.

 The Bush Mobile-Folk art sculpture using flood-damaged car on the banks of Bayou St. John

 Mirabeau Avenue near the failed London Avenue Canal flood wall

 Flood ruined car on Mid City neutral ground with perfectly apt graffiti.

 My Mid City hangout-The Rock 'n' Bowl...what's better than bowling, beer and live music?

I took this shot in April 2010.

Cinco De Mayo 2006-Snooks Eaglin at Rock'n'Bowl.

New Glasses

 I'm nearsighted. Eyeglasses have been part of my daily life since I was in fourth grade. At age 17 I finally realized my vision had deteriorated to the point that I needed corrective lenses 100% of the time. Since then I have purchased eyeglasses through my optometrist, at major mall outlets and at local eyeglass retailers with widely varying degrees of quality, performance and retail price.

I was an early adopter of the internet. I wholeheartedly embraced internet commerce in the mid nineties. I've purchased music, books, electronics and clothing online-all with excellent results. In spite of my embrace of internet commerce I have been hesitant to utilize the internet for eyeglasses. This has been due to a desire to see how the frames looked on my face and to evaluate the quality of the finished product before I make a purchase decision. Time and again I visited online glasses retailers enchanted by the low prices but I still continued to purchase glasses through my usual outlets. That was before the recession. I'm one of the lucky ones because I am still working full time; albeit for a much lower salary.

Recently, I broke my newest pair of stylish glasses that I purchased from a major mall retailer. I couldn't afford to replace them as the warranty had expired. I ended up wearing a much more durable (and cheaper) pair I purchased from a big box store optical department 12 years ago. At this point my wife told me to check out Glasses USA. I figured I had nothing to lose so I typed the URL into my browser. Immediately I was surprised to find a significant selection of stylish eyeglass frames. Typically discount online eyeglass retailers have a limited selection of generic looking frames that practically scream, "CHEAP!"  The contemporary and stylish selection at Glasses USA was a refreshing change. There was a considerable selection of well known designer styles available at bargain prices as well.

The biggest objection for me has been that I want to see what the eyeglasses look like on my face. Glasses USA overcame this objection by creating a way to do this virtually. Through the "Virtual Mirror" feature I was able to upload a head shot from my webcam (you can also use a digital picture) and methodically try each frame shape on to ascertain the best shape and color for my face. I tried several styles and settled on the contemporary semi-rimless style "Playground Black" which sells for a base price of $39 with standard single vision lenses.

Glasses USA gives you multiple lens and lens coating options at a very competitive pricing. I opted for thin lenses for an extra $49 and all three coatings (scratch, UV and reflective) for an additional $17.85. There were also options for Transitions lenses and a polarized sunglasses lens option and a color tinted lens option. The total for my pair came to a very reasonable $105.65 with free standard shipping. I entered the prescription information from my most recent eye exam and sent in my order.

A few days later my new glasses arrived.  I unpacked them and gave them a thorough examination. I determined the glasses felt substantial and are clearly very good quality. The prescription was accurate and the finished glasses fit my face perfectly and look sharp. Glasses USA also provided a high quality padded hard case and lens cloth with my order. This unexpected extra completed an excellent experience. I highly recommend Glasses USA. The experience from beginning to end was smooth and easy. I particularly liked the easy to navigate website, Virtual Mirror feature and most of all the value. Thanks Glasses USA!

A surprising encounter!

So the most unusual thing happens to me Saturday night/Sun morning. I've just finished all my shift ending paperwork about 2AM after the usual incredibly busy Saturday night and I'm walking to the front of the Fort Oglethorpe, GA Steak-n-Shake by the cash registers. As I walk up I slide my New Orleans Saints super bowl champs black and gold fleur-de-lis cap on my head. At the counter is a short, thin late 20-something black man immaculately dressed in a collared black shirt. I notice a colorful hand carved wooden rosary around his neck. He indicates he likes my hat and asks me if I'm from New Orleans. I indicate that in a manner of speaking yes I am-I spent many good years residing in the city-most recently in the 15th Ward in Algiers. He leans over the counter, grabs my hand with gusto, shakes it, and proceeds to tell me that he is a lifelong Algiers Point resident and that he came to Chattanooga/N GA after the storm. So we shot the shit for a long while...turns out we have a mutual connection to some of the same people and of course know all the businesses in the neighborhood. He was surprised to learn that L.B. Landry high had been closed and was being rebuilt. He went to Walker High out on General Meyer. He bemoaned the fact that violent crime has migrated to the West Bank due to the displaced east bank residents moving. He said he wants to go home desperately...but feels that the place he knew isn't there anymore. I feel the same way. I still want to return...because I believe that people who speak the language and understand the culture must return to prevent the culture withering away. The Quarter has already become sort of a Disneyland version of itself in places. The gentrified bullshit that is so common elsewhere infecting the rest of New Orleans would exacerbate the most real tragedy, which is the loss of the working class native who says hello to you on every corner and utters those melodious (to me) words, "Adrian, My man! Wheah Y'at?!
You can't buy that with federal dollars.

Amazon.com 100 Greatest

Amazon.com has put together a list of their picks for the 100 greatest live albums of all time. Many wonderful jazz, pop and rock choices made the cut-but some glaring omissions marred the integrity of this experiment. For example- Where was "The Allman Brothers-Live at the Fillmore?" This is the quintessential live 'southern rock' album of all time. Also notable in its absence-Creedence Clearwater Revival-"The Concert" (a.k.a The Royal Albert Hall Concert.") "One More From the Road" by Lynyrd Skynyrd also didn't make the cut. "The Wildlife Concert" by the Doobie Brothers is perhaps the most comprehensive collection of their greatest hits with all three lead singers ever collected-performed magnificently-and it didn't make the list either.

To be sure, lots of great albums did make the list including:
Eric Clapton-"Unplugged"
Queen-"Live Killers"
Gram Parsons-"Live 1973"
Jeff Buckley-Live at Sin-e
U2-Under a Blood Red Sky
Lucinda Williams-Live at the Fillmore
Thin Lizzy-Live and Dangerous
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band-Live in New York City
B.B. King-Live at The Regal
Aretha Franklin-Live at the Fillmore
Deep Purple-Made in Japan
James Brown-Live at the Apollo
Bob Dylan-The Royal Albert Hall Concert 1966
Neil Young-Live Rust
Otis Redding-Live in Europe
Eva Cassidy-Live at Blues Alley
Bob Marley Live
Rolling Stones-Get Yer Ya Ya's Out!
Roy Orbison-A Black and White Night
The Who-Live at Leeds
Simon and Garfunkel-Live in Central Park
Jimi Hendrix-Live at Monterey Pop
Cheap Trick-Live at Budokan
Frampton Comes Alive!
Kiss Alive!
Greateful Dead-Europe '72
Led Zeppelin-"How The West Was Won."
Rush-"In Rio"
Pink Floyd-"Pulse"
Stevie Ray Vaughan-"Live at Carnegie Hall"
James Taylor-"Live"
Neil Diamond-"Hot August Night"
Aerosmith-"Live Bootleg"
J. Geils Band-"Blow Your Face Out"
Janis Joplin-"In Concert"

Review-Mark Knopfler-Get Lucky

Mark Knopfler is best known for his work as the frontman of Dire Straits. His folk infused voice, country and blues inspired guitar playing have always made Knopfler's work understated and utterly compelling. On 'Get Lucky,' Knopfler explores much of his musical roots. He seamlessly combines folk and blues with original songs and picturesque lyrical paintings that offer a uniquely British reference point. Knopfler has now been a solo artist for more years than he fronted Dire Straits. Each album since the band folded has seen Mark gradually reveal to us more of his diverse musical roots in his profoundly original songs and highly cinematic lyrical pictures. This disc may be his most compelling and complete work. That's saying alot...because past works such as "Golden Heart" and "The Ragpicker's Dream" made my top ten lists in the years they were released. If you are a fan of folk and blues music played and sung with passion and precision this may be your best bet this year.

Get Lucky-Four out of Five Stars

Updates

My blog has been allowed to languish as I have been devoting my time to overcoming some challenges at the office. I have not forgotten my commitment here and will be posting regularly again soon.

Concert Memories

I've been privileged in my life to see many great musicians live in concert. I couldn't list them all if I tried but I wanted to touch on a sampling of the best ones in a particularly good era for Classic Rock shows-the mid to late 1990's!

John Fogerty-Harborlights Pavilion Boston, MA 7/20/1997

John Fogerty had toured only twice in the twenty years leading up to these shows on the "Blue Moon Swamp" tour and had not played any CCR songs regularly live since the band disbanded. This show with the Fairfield Four was a romp through Fogerty's best stuff-CCR and solo that was everything a rock-n-roll show should be and more. Fogerty was positively energized. I got to re-live this music and have a new moment with my wife to be on Fogerty's Premonition tour at Great Woods in Mansfield, MA in 1998.

Fleetwood Mac Great Woods Mansfield, MA 9/20/1997
1997 was an amazing concert year thanks in no small part to the re-emergence of John Fogerty and the reunion of the heyday line-up of Fleetwood Mac. I took a coworker named Leanne Savino to the show and we had an amazing time. The band was phenomenal-sounding fresh and energized as this was an early stop on the tour. Stevie in particular was very energetic and Lindsey was on fire. We were the first audience to hear "Oh Daddy" live instead of "Eyes of The World" on this tour.

Stevie Nicks-Great Woods Mansfield, MA 6/12/1998
This was Stevie's tour to support her newly released "Enchanted" box set and lots of live rarities were played. This is the only time I have ever heard "After The Glitter Fades," "Rose Garden," "Sleeping Angel" and "Garbo" live at a Stevie show. I was accompanied by my beautiful soon-to-be wife and this was the time of our lives.

Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band Worcester Centrum 9/17/1996
Bob Seger waited nine years between albums and tours while he focused on his wife and beautful young son Cole Seger. His triumphant return to Boston area audiences was nothing short of a hard rocking all-out celebration. Seger rocked harder than I've ever heard him with a crack edition of the Silver Bullet band that included John Mellencamp's drummer Kenny Aronoff and Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne. I went with my kid brother and a female friend named Meg who had an in for tickets since she worked for Classic Rock WZLX-FM in Boston. This was an early tour stop and no prisoners were taken.

Aerosmith Great Woods Mansfield, MA 7/11/1997
This was a phenomenal show by one of Boston's finest hometown bands. My kid brother and I went because we are huge fans and this show was an absolute revelation. I got to see Aerosmith again with my wife at the first show they performed after the 9/11 transportation ban was lifted...but that's another post for another time.

The Moody Blues with The World Festival Orchestra 7/17/1996
The Moody Blues played Great Woods with the orchestra 3 times in a four year period and at two of three shows I was there in the audience with my girlfriend Nicole Kaiser. This show in particular was special because it was the "Time Traveler" box set tour and lots of rarities were dusted off for a longer than usual set. I am a huge fan of Justin Hayward's introspective songwriting and brilliant pithy guitar work. The Moodies did not disappoint including such live rarities as "Legend of a Mind which was especially fitting given the recent death of Timothy Leary.

Music Review-Black Crowes "Before The Frost...After The Freeze"

The Black Crowes disappeared from the music scene for seven years prior to releasing last year's "Warpaint." Now they seemed poised to make up for lost time. The Robinson brothers have release a double album of new material recorded live at Levon Helm's Woodstock, NY facility. There's even a new marketing strategy-all customers who buy "Before The Frost" will receive a password to download the digital version of the companion album..."Until The Freeze." This is an unexpected modern turn of events from a band so firmly rooted in the past glory of British Blues.

The sound of applause on several tracks reminds you that this is a live recording in a way the excellent playing does not. The opener "Good Morning Captain"immediately puts you in familiar territory with the Crowes enthusiastically riding a ragged roadhouse blues groove punctuated by slide guitar. The fun factor is still present, but with a profound lyrical depth. "I Ain't Hiding" is reminiscent of the Rolling Stones circa "Some Girls" with a gritty disco vibe that channels 'Miss You." "Appaloosa" is a rustic romp that woulda made Levon Helm proud. This record shows off the complex interplay you'd expect from such a seasoned group of performers without the weariness that so often creeps into the performances of established groups. This band performs with a high energy and enthusiasm that is infectious. These old road dogs sound enthusiastically alive and comfortable in their own skin-and that is a darn good thing.

"Before The Frost...After The Freeze" 4 out of 5 stars