Locks and Keys

James Gunaseelan asked:


One of the worst fears of a bike owner is the thought of having his bike lifted. He would like to have a bike lock that cannot be broken or picked. Fortunately, there are a whole range of bike locks that are available in the market. You just need to pick the right one. Here are five locks that are quite popular:

1: ABUS Granit Extreme 59/180HB: This German brand lock is 16 mm thick and comes with the following features:

— Square parabolic shackle with a hardened steel construction for maximum resistance against bolt-cutters

— Double locking cylinder with more than a million key variations

— Runner cover to sheathe the shackle

— Sliding cover to shield keyhole from dirt.

The only disadvantage of this lock is that it large and cumbersome to carry

2. Bully U-shaped Disc Lock: This is a strong lock and is not easy to pick. Its important features are:

— Double-roller-bearing locking mechanism,

— Hardened anti-drill discs

— Eight-disc hardened steel cylinder

— Specially heat-treated alloy steel construction

— Keyhole cover to keep dirt out

— Soft plastic to cover the shackle

3. Cobralinks Cable Lock: This is tough cable lock, and not easy to break. Its important features are:

— Hardened stainless steel links covering seven strands of top-quality aircraft cable

— Available in lengths of 6, 8, 10 & 12 feet

— Diameter of ¾ and 1 inch

— 10-15 pound weight

— Rolls up to make a11 inch coil

— Three keys included with patented setup

4. Kryptonite New York Disc Lock & Fahgettaboudit Security Chain: This chain and lock combo is marketed as the ultimate motorcycle lock. The hexagonal chain links made of triple-heat-treated steel are shaped to ward off attacks from bolt-cutters, saws, chisels and hammers. They have narrow inner width that does not encourage leverage assaults.

The New York Disc Lock is no less impressive. It has a:

— Hardened half-inch steel shackle

— Disc-style cylinder

— Steel sleeve over the crossbar

— Double deadbolt locking mechanism

— Sliding dust covers

5. MasterLock Python 6-inch Adjustable Cable Lock: The makers of this lock market it as “the world’s first fully adjustable locking cable that’s always the right length”. The cable that is six foot and comprises multi-strands works is easy to use. To use it, the bike owner needs to

– insert the cable into the lock

– pull tight

– turn the key.



FREDDY

Tim Cartwright asked:


The price of cars has climbed over the past few years. It is all the more crucial for you to do your research when you are in the market for a new car.

How do you go about finding the right car? The first step to purchasing a new car is to undertake a detailed assessment of your needs. What are your transportation needs? Why do you need a car?

To figure out the car you need, you need to identify how you are going to use the car. Where are you going to use the car?

When your principle transportation needs are revolving around your kids or your work, you have a very specific set of criteria to work with. If you are worried about taking your children to soccer practice, you need a car that has plenty of seats in the back.

You need to figure out what class of vehicle is going to suit your lifestyle. You also need to think about who is going to be driving the car. If you’re going to be doing a lot of commuting, you have also got to consider things like the car’s gas mileage and how comfortable the car is going to be.

New cars have tons of features to offer as well. As you think about your needs, you have to identify what, if any, features are going to be useful for your car. You should make a list of the features you might need.

General features should be listed so that you can keep in mind what you are looking for. You’ve also got to consider the safety features your car is going to need. Think about whether you want anti-lock brakes systems, integrated seat belt systems, head injury protection or even child protection equipment. Again, the key to managing the long list of possible features is to be clear about what you’re actually going to need and use.

Once you have idea of the car itself, you need to figure out the price tag. How much can you afford to spend on your new car, realistically? It is crucial to be realistic, particularly in this economy.

You need to have answers to most of your financial questions before you start to shop around for your car. This means that you need to know what you can afford and how you can pay for it.

It is a pretty good rule of thumb that your loan or lease payments should not come to more than 20% of your monthly income. For obvious reasons, you’ve got to be able to pay your basic living expenses and not be worried about how you are going to afford your car payment.

Review your budget and take into consideration all the associated costs of having the car (fuel, license, registration, personal property taxes, and insurance). You may want to contact your insurance company before hand to determine the price for insurance coverage.

Before you go shopping for your car, you have to have your finances in order. When you know that you are going to require financing, you need to think about how much you are going to pay as a down payment. You should be paying at least 10 percent down if you choose a traditional loan. You may also want to consider a lease which typically requires no down payment.

If you have bad credit, you may be categorized in the “subprime” financing arena. If you have credit problems, you have to try to work with a consumer credit counselor or other advisor.

Although it is fairly standard to obtain loans commercially, you should check out alternative sources such as credit union organizations, and banks. Some dealers will also offer special financial packages for those with poor credit so if financing is an issue for you, you should mention it up front.

When you post what you want up front, you can eliminate the uncertainties of buying a new car.

A good car should last you a long time. It should bring you many good years of driving. By engaging with dealers and having them compete for your business online, you stay in control and you get what you want.



MITCHEL

Plano Locksmith asked:


While performing locksmith duties in Plano Texas, our company has to open a lot of car doors for women who locked their keys in their cars.  The biggest service our technicians offer is not the actual process of opening the door.  Instead, it is giving reassurance to these women that their safety and security is protected.

We heard from these customers that many of them would like to have a quick and simple list of what to when their keys get locked in the car.  Their first concern, rightfully so, is that their safety is ensured and that help is on the way quickly.

We decided to create a list of safety tips which women of all ages can use when in this situation.

Number One:  Use your cell phone to store these tips!

Your cell phone is a terrific tool to keep you safe.  The first thing you should do is somehow take these tips and put them into your phone.  Depending on the model of cell phone you use, you might be able to upload this online article and store it on your phone (either directly or via a created PDF).  If you do not have that capability, then leave a voice message for yourself on your voice and save it.  Be sure that your saved messages do not automatically erase after a certain number of days.  Finally, you can summarize these tips and text message yourself.  Keep the tips in your text message archive or elsewhere on your phone.

All of the above recommendations are done for one reason: reassurance.  If you lock your keys in your car you may panic especially if the weather is bad, if it is late at night, if you were in a rush to get to work, or if you have to pick up your kids.  Remembering that you have these tips available to you right in your cell phone will give you peace of mind.

Number Two:  Have a preferred locksmith in your cell phone’s contact list and/or contact organizer

It’s one thing to know that you have tips to stay safe in a situation.  It’s even better when you have the number of someone whom you know that you can call that can actually solve the problem!

Whether you have a preferred locksmith, or use your insurance’s roadside assistance, have that number in your phone.  If you left your phone in your locked car then find a reputable service with an easy-to-remember phone number.  When in a panic situation you probably won’t be able to remember all sorts of intricate phone numbers, so find one which is simple and then call it from a nearby phone.

Number Three:  Maintain awareness of your situation

While performing locksmith services in Plano, our technicians noticed that the women who stayed the most calm and solved the problem the fastest were the ones who also knew what was going on around them.  They did not attract too much attention to their situation, they used their cell phones intelligently to let people know what was happening, and they were able to give identifiable landmarks and other useful information in order to let the technicians reach them as quickly as possible.

Number Four:  Preparation

In our daily experience, one of the most panic-inducing situations for women is to be locked out of her car late at night in an unfamiliar place.  Visions of horror movies and violent news stories sometimes come to their minds, and it is understandable for any woman in this situation to be concerned.  A little bit of preparation can be helpful in reducing the magnitude of the concern.

If you usually carry a handbag with you when you leave your car, be sure to keep a small flashlight in it.  This will help you increase visibility late at night so that you are not in darkness during the time you are waiting for help to arrive.

In addition, keep a spare small electrical outlet charger for your cell phone.  Since communication with others who can help you is paramount, you don’t want your cell phone’s battery to die in the middle of your conversations!  Having this spare charger in your hand bag, gym bag, or other bag you may carry will give you reassurance.

Number Five:  Contacting people who can help

If you have your cell phone with you, be sure to call someone you know and let them know where you are.  If they are within reasonable driving distance have them come out to join you so that you have safety with people you trust.

Should you be in a situation where no one you know is nearby, it is late, and you are unfamiliar with the area then it is okay to contact the authorities.  Let them know that you are safe, where you are, and ask them if they can help you with finding a locksmith.  It is much better to focus on safety first, and let them tell you who will be coming to your location so that you know whom to expect.

Hopefully you find these tips useful.  If so, be sure to send them to people you care about so that they, too, may stay safe and get help quickly if they are ever locked out of their cars.



COY