Armor Glass® Blog

Thieves Use Sledgehammers on Jewelry Store Displays

2012-01-26T10:23:00.002-06:00

Thieves used sledgehammers to storm a jewelry store and smashed the displays. Here is the link to the story:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8518893

This is another example of how Armor Glass security film could prevent theft - our security film with Dow 995 bonding would have prevented a breach of the glass. At the minimum it would have impeded the thieves from getting to the loot.

Burglaries of houses, jewelry stores, hurricanes, tornadoes, solar heat --Armor Glass protects from all of the above. Check us out at www.ArmorGlass.com and get a FREE quote.

Tornado Threat - in January?

2012-01-23T13:32:00.003-06:00

Tornadoes hitting in JANUARY? It appears that 2012 could be another strange weather year. 2011 had over 12 Extreme Weather events - from triple vortex tornadoes to drought and triple digit heat.

Remember, tornadoes are like hurricanes - they throw debris through your glass and the internal pressure then blows the building apart. Having Armor Glass security film on your glass "armors it" to give you more protection than what you have - NONE.

And it has kept burglars from breaking in and saves energy from solar heat--while costing a fraction of the alternatives (laminated glass or shutters.)

What's there not to love about that?

Speaking of heat, 2011 was the 35th consecutive year that temperatures have been ABOVE NORMAL. So, expect more of same this summer (in Houston we are having record temps in January!)

New Libyan Gov't Could Have Used Armor Glass

2012-01-21T16:14:00.003-06:00

Well, the honeymoon in Libya was short lived. Protesters attacked the building of the Transitional National Government. As you can see in this article, they "smashed windows" to gain entrance - then carted off computers, etc.

Here is yet another example how Armor Glass security film would have prevented unauthorized entry into a building through its weakest link - its windows!

Why leave home without it?

Burglaries Burglaries Burglaries...

2012-01-17T09:10:00.002-06:00

Here is a link to a recent news story on a number of break ins in one part of Houston. This same story is repeating itself all over the city and nationally.

Here is a typical excerpt:

"...the BPD received a report of a burglary of a habitation. A witness who lives in the vicinity observed three suspects loading property into the trunk of a vehicle. Officers arrived as suspects were leaving the scene. The suspects fled from officers, striking one patrol vehicle as they attempted to elude officers. The suspect vehicle was pursued northbound on Chimney Rock to the Southwest Freeway near the Shepherd exit. Two suspects fled on foot and were arrested; one suspect was arrested from the vehicle. A safe stolen from the above residence was protruding from the vehicle. The safe was later returned to the owners. It was subsequently determined that the suspects had entering the residence by scaling a fence and breaking out a window.

Notice the last line - they broke out a window to enter. Our security film has prevented that from happening in other documented cases.

Are you prepared? Ask for a FREE quote today...

Michael Fjetland - Armor Glass - The BusinessMakers Radio Show

2012-01-06T11:57:00.000-06:00

Michael Fjetland - Armor Glass - The BusinessMakers Radio Show

Besides Armor Glass, You Need This...

2011-12-31T11:51:00.003-06:00

We have reports of attempted break-ins on residences that had installed our Armor Glass security film. The burglars didn't get through our film, so they broke the locks instead.

Therefore, we recommend homeowners ALSO install a better lock OR this "Tuff Strike" shown in the photo. Notice that instead of a couple small screws it has two long shafts that are drilled into your door jam. The screws are what gives way first if kicked.

We do NOT sell the locks or Tuff Strike but you can order one from one of of our sales reps - Happy Doors. You can reach them by calling Les at 713-516-4460. Not only do they refinish doors but they also sell the heavy duty "Ultimate Lock."

Happy New Year!

Interview on "Business Newsmakers"

2011-12-26T14:30:00.003-06:00

Here is a link to an interview just published on "Business Newsmakers"...Check it out.

To SEE THE VIDEO scroll Down to the bottom of the link>

http://www.thebusinessmakers.com/episodes/shows/2011/december-2011/episode-342/michael-fjetland.html

$500 Tax Credit Expires Dec 31, 2011

2011-12-21T10:03:00.002-06:00

The energy efficiency tax credit for 2011 is $500 and EXPIRES on December 31, 2011. In 2010 that tax credit that helped homeowners save energy and money on energy efficiency upgrades was $1,500.

In 2012 the tax credit will be ZERO>

Tell you Congressman that you want the Energy Efficiency Tax Credit reinstated in 2012 - it helps homeowners who install radiant barriers, insulation and heat-reducing/hurricane-burglar protecting security window film on their homes!

2011-12-19T08:43:00.002-06:00

For the week before Christmas, I've got a LOT to do - doing another install today plus more measurements from Galveston to Houston. SOme of it is for hurricane protections, some for burglary security...Plus it saves money on energy costs by cutting solar heat.

Love this Green+Security business...

Here is a 4 minute video about it.

Freak Past-Season T.S. Washi - Kills over 400 in Philippines

2011-12-17T16:13:00.004-06:00

Mother nature is doing some freaky things - like generating hurricane force winds AFTER the season has officially ended.

Hurricane season is supposed to end November 30 (north of the equator). However T.S. Washi just hit the Philippines with just under hurricane force winds (70 mph) and killed over 400 people, most from flooding as they slept!

Here is a link to the video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/16231450

2011 ranks as one of the Weirdest weather years - over 14 Extreme Weather events in the U.S. costing over $50 billion, and now a freak post-season Tropical Storm Washi in the Pacific.

Makes you wonder, what's next?

Burglaries, Burglaries, Burglaries - Everywhere

2011-12-17T14:25:00.002-06:00

Here is a list of recent TV news items. See if you notice a similarity:

3 Arrested In NW Harris County Home Burglaries

video

November 07, 2011

http://www.click2houston.com/news/3-Arrested-In-NW-Harris-County-Home-Burglaries/-/1735978/4723028/-/tkeofp/-/index.html

Police: 16 Burglaries In Less Than A Week

video

October 27, 2011

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Police-16-Burglaries-In-Less-Than-A-Week/-/1735978/4724012/-/1u4trs/-/index.html

Burglars target Clear Lake homes

video

November 15, 2011

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Burglars-target-Clear-Lake-homes/-/1735978/4763056/-/pfw9aez/-/index.html

FM 1960 businesses burglarized

video

December 01, 2011

http://www.click2houston.com/news/FM-1960-businesses-burglarized/-/1735978/4860596/-/o8ck4oz/-/index.html

3 Meyerland homes broken into in 3 hours

video

December 02, 2011

http://www.click2houston.com/news/3-Meyerland-homes-broken-into-in-3-hours/-/1735978/4866986/-/aokwwv/-/index.html

Meyerland residents fed up with break-ins

video

December 15, 2011

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Meyerland-residents-fed-up-with-break-ins/-/1735978/5752096/-/y69l13/-/index.html

Pasadena police issue warning following break-ins

video

December 14, 2011

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Pasadena-police-issue-warning-following-break-ins/-/1735978/5662386/-/1397touz/-/index.html

Teen arrested may have committed other car burglaries

video

December 16, 2011

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Teen-arrested-may-have-committed-other-car-burglaries/-/1735978/5843592/-/sijmdxz/-/index.html

Rash of home burglaries in Pasadena

YEP - ALL over Houston (and every other city) we are having a burglary epidemic.

There is one solution. Last summer we installed our security film on a lady's house. 5 days later someone tried to break in one of those windows - and failed! (Normally it is a 30 day cure time).

Contact us for a FREE quote. Burglary is not seasonal like hurricanes and solar heat (which we also protect people from). It is a 24/7, 365 day a year threat...

News Reports: Rash of Burglaries Everywhere

2011-12-15T10:56:00.002-06:00

Several Houston TV stations are reporting a rash of burglaries all over Houston - from Pasadena to Sugar Land.

We have had several instances reported in which our security film prevented a burglar from breaking through the glass. In some case the burglar then broke the (cheap) lock.

We recommend that you "harden" your house by installing both a quality lock and Armor Glass Security film. Once on, you won't need to "board up" for a hurricane and its solar heat cutting properties will also save enough energy to pay for itself over time - not to mention protecting you from a nasty break-in.

Contact us for a FREE quote.

Hermes Broken Into - Armor Glass Could Have Prevented It

2011-12-09T12:19:00.003-06:00

Yet another store has been broken into - this one the Hermes store in Houston. Thieves broke in and stole thousands of dollars of merchandise.

Sadly, this is yet another example of where Armor Glass security film would have prevented the burglars from getting in...GLASS IS A BUILDING'S WEAKEST LINK! It takes little effort to penetrate it.

Here is the link to the story in today's Houston Chronicle:

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/12-08-11-bye-bye-birkin-hermes-store-robbed/?utm_source=CultureMap+Houston+Alerts&utm_campaign=23f1a028d7-Luxury_store_robberies12_8_2011&utm_medium=email

"Loose Cannon" Hits House

2011-12-07T14:42:00.005-06:00

Here's another reason to have Armor Glass Security film on your windows - Loose Cannons! Here's the story and article link:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef015437fa9d7a970c-pi

"'MythBusters' misfire sends cannonball through neighborhood
December 7, 2011 | 8:32 am

Mythbusters cannonball
A cannonball fired by the "Mythbusters" TV show plowed through a Northern California house, struck the roof of another house and smashed through a minivan's window in a science experiment gone wrong.

The mishap occurred Tuesday while the Discovery Channel show was testing out whether other materials are just as effective as a cannonball when fired from a cannon.

Instead, the mythbusters learned how effective a cannonball can be when it misses its intended target, according to KGO-TV San Francisco.

PHOTOS: 'Mythbusters' cannonball experiment goes astray

The cannonball was fired from a bomb range in Dublin, about 35 miles east of San Francisco in Alameda County. It was supposed to hit trash cans but instead soared 700 yards into the home of a sleeping couple, leaving a 10-inch hole in the bedroom wall.
The cannonball was traveling as fast as a bullet. It exited the house, bounced across four lanes of traffic, struck the roof of another house and then smashed through the window of a parked minivan.

No one was injured.

Neighbors said "MythBusters" often tries its experiments in the area, and they have grown used to hearing explosions."

Well, now you've heard it all. P.S. Armor Glass Security film HAS passed the "Large Missile" test! (Just in case "Myth Busters" are shooting off any cannons in your neighborhood!)

California Hit With 140 mph Hurricane-Force WINDS!

2011-12-01T19:36:00.004-06:00

In another display of Extreme Weather, winds of up to 140 miles per hour have hit California - equivalent to a CAT 4 hurricane! It knocked over trees and windborne debris broke windows.

One expert said: "I don't recall something like this in recent memory," said Brian Edwards, a meteorologist for AccuWeather.com. "In some places we've seen gusts over hurricane force, which for the Southwest part of the country is not something that usually happens. This is a one-every-10-years kind of thing."

"Normal" freak weather or not, it is yet another reason to "armor your glass" to protect your property's weakest link and your family.

The full story link is:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-winds-science-20111202,0,1624581.story

Testimonial - from a Client who had a break-in

2011-11-30T10:30:00.004-06:00

We just received this testimonial from a client who had a break-in:

"I was extremely pleased with Armor Glass film. It worked just as advertised. We were burglarized through a door with a large glass window and the glass held together with the film. The weak point was the plastic frame holding the glass in place.

It is clear this film offers the protection needed for hurricane force winds. It also offers a great first line of defense to discourage burglars who attempt to enter through the glass windows and doors.

Armor Glass film worked just as advertised.

Gary R"

Burglars, Rioters & Iranians - Breaking Glass

2011-11-29T10:50:00.004-06:00

The photo is a picture of Iranians breaking glass at the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Notice that the glass is definitely broken, giving the culprits easy access to the interior of the building.

But whether it is Iranians, rioters or just the ordinary everyday burglar, it is another example how Armor Glass security film protects people and property from intrusion through every building's weakest link - its windows.

It is the same film that was installed on Washington DC federal buildings after 9/11, including the Pentagon. But it doesn't cost a Pentagon price. We put it on a lady's house last summer. Five (5) days later someone tried to break in - and failed.

Armor Glass security film has done the same thing countless times --keeping vandals at bay. At the same time it also reduces solar heat and protects from hurricane force winds, making it unnecessary to "board up."

Who needs it? Anyone with glass windows....Call us today for a free quote.

Wacky News: Strongest Late Season Hurricane - High Rise Hazards

2011-11-25T07:24:00.003-06:00

Two Wacky News items of note:

The strongest late season hurricane on record -- Kenneth -- reached CAT 4 status before diminishing to tropical storm strengh. Details at:

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/hurricanes/story/2011-11-25/kenneth-pacific-storm/51391834/1?loc=interstitialskip

And then there is this gem:

Pedestrians in England REALLY needed protection from Armor Glass when a man broke a high rise window with a fire extinguisher and started hurling furniture, computers, etc out the window in a fit of "office rage"! Fortunately, most of the pedestrians below were protected from being hit by a canopy. However the fire extinguisher landed on a car (wonder what his insurance agent will say?). Details at:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/11/24/man-on-apparent-office-rampage-hurls-office-furniture-from-uk-high-rise/

Had our film been installed, the "office rager" would have been even more frustrated - he never would have been able to break through the glass! LOL.

You just never know when you'll need protection...

Last Theft Rage :Eye Glass Frames

2011-11-24T11:11:00.003-06:00

It appears that thieves have taken to stealing eye glass frames. Here is a link to a recent Washington Post article on this trend:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/thieves-set-their-sights-on-high-end-eyewear/2011/11/22/gIQAL4ummN_story.html?hpid=z10

"Thieves have hit eyewear shops in other parts of the country, too. In August in Miami, they stole eyeglasses, a television, three printers and a laptop computer, with a total value of $254,000, according to the Miami Herald."

One used a rock to break the glass: "in Grandville, Mich., police spotted a 41-year-old man hiding in a ditch outside an ophthalmology office, one he broke into using a rock, according to the Grand Rapids Press. The suspect was accused of stealing $13,000 worth of sunglasses and eyeglass frames."

Had the store been protected with Armor Glass security film, he never would have gotten in...

Frankly, burglars seem intent on stealing anything of potential value. If all you have is plain unprotected glass as a barrier, then they will have no trouble at all getting in.

Don't be a victim! Get protection.

Building Codes Outdated in Extreme Weather

2011-11-19T07:58:00.002-06:00

Extreme weather is becoming the norm and building codes are not keeping up, according to Homeland Security experts in this article:

http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/building-codes-increasingly-unable-withstand-extreme-weather

"According to Munich Re, one of the world’s largest insurance companies, weather related incidents serious enough to cause property damage have risen sharply since 1980. The company says that extreme floods and windstorms have approximately tripled, while the number of days with heavy rainfall in South America, North America, and parts of Europe has also increased."

"Currently engineers build structures to survive a “hundred-year storm,” the term given to a massive weather event that has a 1 percent chance of happening in a year.

The increasing prevalence of these hundred year storm events has led engineers to debate what types of safety measures they need to build into new designs and whether older structures need to be retrofitted."

And finally this comment by an insurance company:

"Munich Re will now offer lower premiums to homes built to resist higher winds. The company has also refused to cover buildings in areas it deems too risk-prone and mandates wider floodplains."

How to make a house resist higher winds? Install Armor Glass certified security film that protects the building's weakest link - its windows - from blowing out. That leads to interior damage (including mold), dangerous flying glass, and roof loss from the pressure. It will also keep out human burglars, another extreme hazard.

Extreme Weather: The New Normal?

2011-11-18T06:54:00.003-06:00

2011 has had 14 Extreme Weather events costing over a billion dollars each so far this year - from Super-tornadoes to triple digit heat waves to Floods to Drought.

A new report out suggests that climate change creates extreme weather conditions and that this may become the "new normal."
Link:
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/story/2011-11-17/report-blames-climate-change-for-more-extreme-weather-events/51276310/1

That means we can expect more of these freak events that are causing so much damage. Extreme weather in 2011 has produced costs of nearly $50 billion.

"Unprecedented extreme weather and climate events" look likely in coming decades as a result of a changing climate, says the draft report.

Bottom line? The need for Armor Glass security film will increase as a means to cut triple digit heat and avoid window blow outs from hurricane-force winds -- not to mention man-made actions like burglaries.

The $500 tax credit for energy efficiency improvements to your home will expire December 31, 2011. There is no expiration date on future extreme weather events...

white house shooting: ballistics and explosions

2011-11-17T13:20:00.004-06:00

The recent incident in which someone took shots at the White House shows why the government installed the same film as ours on all federal buildings after 9/11.

In addition, some buildings --like the white house --received ballistic glass, which is an entirely different animal.

The linked article talks about new federal construction that includes protection from explosions, hurricanes and break-ins. That job is done by our security film. Stopping a bullet requires something else - a very special and very expensive (and thick glass as described in this article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15762682

Over 500,000 s.f. of our security film was installed on DC federal buildings after 9/11, including the pentagon. Yet the cost is a fraction of ballistic glass or even storm shutters.

You are more likely to face a threat from a break-in or hurricane-force winds than a bullet. Like this incident:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/7-year-old-shot-in-N-Houston-home-invasion-2274024.php

Are your prepared?

Police: Burglary Spike hitting Clear lake

2011-11-16T06:43:00.002-06:00

Today's print edition of the Houston Chronicle had a report that Houston Police were concentrating their efforts in the Clear Lake area because of a dramatic increase in the number of burglaries.

It's the economy folks. Unless you have a police officer on your property 24/7 the next best thing is to have the protection of Armor Glass security film. In several recent burglary attempts, our film kept the intruders from getting through the glass.

In addition to our film we recommend homeowners invest in heavier duty locks, like the "ultimate lock." Only then will you have 24/7 protection.

Check out the two minute video that shows how it works at www.ArmorGlass.com

Another Break-in of a Business

2011-11-14T11:19:00.002-06:00

I was on my way to breakfast this morning when this sight stopped me. Last night someone broke into this business in the Houston area. The manager told me that it was the second break in in the last two weeks.

Our security film would have prevented the illegal entry - and if it had rained it would have prevented interior damage from that as well. We bond the film to the frame, giving it additional support. The frames will failure before the film does.

Record Hurricane Season - 18 Storms Plus Alaska SuperStorm

2011-11-09T10:20:00.002-06:00

We have made another record year for hurricanes in 2011.

According to the Star: "2011 is the 7th hurricane season to have 18 or more storms" (we have time for yet another before the season closes Nov. 30). Also it is "the first time we’ve had 18 or more storms in consecutive seasons, with 2010 having 19 storms." Here is their tally:

Year # of Storms:
2011 18*
2010 19
2005 28
1995 19
1969 18
1933 21
1887 19

In the meantime Alaska Faces One Of Its Worst Storms Ever, Forecasters Say. This storm is deeper/stronger than some major hurricanes. CNN has a good overview of the threat: "Alaska is facing a life threatening winter storm with near hurricane force winds, more than a foot of snow and severe coastal flooding, the National Weather Service says. "This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening storm which will be one of the worst on record over the Bering Sea and the west coast,"

It seems that "Extreme Weather" is becoming the norm.

Are you prepared?

Tornado Hits Near Kingwood School

2011-11-09T07:36:00.001-06:00

Yesterday a small tornado touched down near a Kingwood (Houston) school. Students were moved to an interior space. What if the tornado had hit before they were moved?

This is another case where our security film on their glass would have provided protection schools don't have today. We bond the film to the frames so that windborne debris being hurled by the tornado would have It would have kept glass shrapnel from causing injury or death.

Not to mention that the tint version of our security film would have cut the schools energy bill and operating costs, enough to pay for itself over time.

Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Hail - Extreme Weather the "New Normal"?

2011-11-08T00:43:00.002-06:00

Poor Oklahoma. After experiencing an earthquake larger than anything like it in 50 years, today its being hit by tornadoes and hail.

The biggest threat to a building is loss of its windows from stress caused by a shaking earth to windborne debris from tornado winds or falling ice balls.

Reports are that "extreme weather" may be the "new normal." Article link:
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/24/nation/la-na-extreme-weather-20110824

In each season this year, Oklahoma has had an extreme weather event. The U.S. has had over 13 extreme weather events in 2011. For example:

"The winter brought ice storms and snow from Mexico to Canada. The "Groundhog Day blizzard," which began in late January, brought Chicago to a standstill, dumped 21 inches of snow at O'Hare International Airport and killed 36 people.

But the spring and summer have packed a wallop of willful and dangerous weather. April spawned 875 tornado reports -- the 30-year average for the month is 135. The "super outbreak," as climatologists dubbed it, killed 327 people.

Floodwaters sprang from the Red River to the Ohio River. A string of enormous storms saturated the Ohio Valley, where precipitation was more than 200% above normal.

The Mississippi River crested from Illinois to Louisiana. As the Mississippi continued to rise, threatening major cities along its banks, a district judge ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to open the Morganza Spillway, inundating 4,600 square miles of Louisiana bottom land along with rural farmsteads and fields.

At times one weather crisis begot another. The storm cells parked above the Ohio Valley blocked the much-needed moisture from the Gulf of Mexico from reaching the southern Plains, exacerbating the region's drought.

Heat and aridity smothered Texas, where 2 million acres were consumed by wildfires in late spring. Another record."

Are you protected --from the heat and storms?

Burglar Meets Armor Glass Security Film

2011-11-04T10:30:00.005-05:00

A client sent me several photos of his back door where a burglar tried to break through the glass door which had our film and frame bonding attached.

You can see they tried to beat out the glass. Normally one hit and the glass would have been a pile of fragments on the floor - and the burglar would just step through and "help themselves."

In this case, they didn't make it through our film. However, they were able to break a lock.

Moral: Invest in Armor Glass AND a heavy duty lock!

Another use for AG Security Film: In a Recording Studio!

2011-11-02T10:18:00.003-05:00

I received a call today from a recording studio with an unusual request. They wanted our thickest film - 14 mil. Why? To put on the internal windows in their recording studio!

Why? Because the glass vibrates as a result of the instruments. The film would cut the high frequency vibrations being caused by the musicians.

We heard the same thing when we installed our normal 8 mil film on windows in Galveston that are old and thin. After it was put on the homeowners noticed that street noise was muffled considerably -- and they have protection from windborne debris strikes during a hurricane and from burglars trying to break-in.

It's always amazing to me the new uses for our unique product.

Yet Another Burglary Where Armor Glass Worked...

2011-10-31T07:18:00.005-05:00

I just got this email today from a client:

"Michael- we had a break in at our house. ...THe good news is the window film worked great. I can show you some pictures that are pretty impressive.

I have replaced the glass in the door, but now it has no film. I would
like to get the film installed. - Gary"

Another example of Armor Glass security film at work! When the glass is broken by a burglar it prevents a breach - then the owner replaces the glass and we put new film on the replacement and they are "good to go again."

Note: When they can't get through the glass with Armor Glass film the next thing they do is break the lock on the door - so make sure you also get a heavy duty lock like the "ultimate lock" for your security.

Hurricane Season Recap

2011-10-29T14:31:00.003-05:00

2011 has been a busy hurricane season. Here is the link to the Weather Channel breakdown of hurricanes to date. We've had 17 named storms and 6 hurricanes, of which 3 were major.

This count is less than 2010 at this point, which had 10 hurricanes of which 5 were major at this time of the season.

The season doesn't officially end until November 30, when it takes a six month break before commencing again next June 1.

In the meantime, we keep getting reports of break-ins at both homes and businesses. Those happen 24/7, 365 days a year. Our security film has prevented entry after burglars have struck on more than one occasion. With a down economy, that trend will continue.

It's never too late to get prepared..www.ArmorGlass.com

Menu for Break-ins

2011-10-25T13:29:00.002-05:00

I got a call from a client who had a couple windows replaced and wanted security film installed on the new glass. When I got there she told me that when they were watching the last Shuttle launch someone had broken in - but not through the windows that had our film. They had broken their lock!So they went out and had "Ultimate Locks" installed. She then told me about a friend of hers in Pearland who was home recently when someone broke through the bathroom window, where she had been drying her hair a few minutes before the incident. She ran outside and called police. Needless to say, she was very shaken. You just never know which window they will pick to break.Once more, it makes the point that windows are your weakest link for unauthorized entry. After that, make sure you upgrade your locks. I've heard good things about Ultimate Lock as well as "Pop A Lock" but do your own investigation.During depressed economic times, break-ins are a source of income for people who are looking to take some of your stuff to sell. Don't make it easy for them. Install Armor Glass security film and upgrade your locks!

RINA is Now a CAT 2 Hurricane - May Become a CAT 3

2011-10-25T09:45:00.000-05:00

RINA is growing fast - it is now a CAT 2 hurricane and is predictable to become a CAT 3. It's track is still Northwest as it heads towards the Gulf of Mexico.It does pose a threat to the south coast of the U.S. but it is still too early to tell where it will go. Stay tuned and click "Follow" to get updates on our blog...

RINA is now a Hurricane - Where is it Going?

2011-10-24T16:27:00.001-05:00

Boy, that was fast. This morning RINA was just a tropical storm south of us. This afternoon it had become a CAT 1 Hurricane! The water temps are so hot in that area that there is plenty of fuel to feed this beast. The hot water goes down deep so even as it churns up the deeper water it is still HOT enough to add fuel to the fire.The big question is: WHERE is it going? The computer models are unclear. It will be a few days before it becomes clear how much strength it will have and where it will hit. It is already nipping at Cancun, a popular tourist destination. In fact the President of my condo association is on a cruise ship that is probably getting hit by winds from RINA right now.Stay tuned...Stay prepared.

Tropical Storm RINA forms south of Gulf of Mexico

2011-10-24T08:56:00.000-05:00

We have a potential hurricane forming just south of the Yucatan and Gulf of Mexico. It is currently Tropical Storm RINA.It is too early to tell WHERE it will go or how BIG it will get. Right now it is drifting to the Northwest towards the Gulf of Mexico. It may turn at some point but again it is too early to tell. WATCH IT during the next week as it develops.This poses a direct threat to the southern coast of the U.S. as well as Central America..

Customer Was Cool - Until Break-in Next Door

2011-10-21T08:38:00.004-05:00

One of our reps talked to the owner of a retail business in Houston, who was cool to the idea of installing security film. They ordered enough for one bathroom window because it also blocked the view from outside.

All of that changed yesterday. Why? The night before someone threw a brick through the glass of a business next door.

Suddenly my rep got a call from the owner who was very shaken and said he "felt so vulnerable." His shop has a lot of expensive equipment which could have been stolen or damaged. The unlucky store next door suffered a loss over and above the cost of replacing the glass.

Now he wants our security film on ALL of his glass. With it in place, no one is going to break in using a brick or a crowbar.

Moral: Don't wait until its too late!

WInds Blow Out High Rise Windows in Chicago

2011-10-19T17:53:00.000-05:00

I just heard a report by Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel on NBC news in which he said: "Winds blew out windows on high rises today" in Chicago. And the winds were 60 mph! That's not even hurricane strength. Here is a copy of the written report by the Weather Channel...

Too bad that they didn't have Armor Glass security film because they would still have their windows intact - instead of dealing with flying glass and rain pouring in a broken window....

San Antonio Court break-in Suspicious

2011-10-19T08:18:00.002-05:00

Authorities in San Antonio discovered five (5) men who had broken into the Bexar County courthouse.

They were from French Morocco and had maps of infrastructure in their possession. Apparently they had been traveling the country and collecting these maps as they went.As a former TV terrorism analyst, it raises the prospect in my mind that they were doing intelligence for a future terror attack on U.S. infrastructure - looking for ways to do the most damage, perhaps blowing up a pipeline or other significant target. It's hard to figure out what else they were doing there. Morocco is known for "free lance terrorism." That is defined as "lone wolf" types who are not part of Al Qaida but who want to do similar acts.How did they break in?

I have been inside the Bexar County courthouse. Check out the photo. All it would take is breaking a window on the first floor. Needless to say, the courthouse does not have Armor Glass security film protecting it...Stay tuned.

Houston: 60 Burglaries/day - One Every 30 minutes

2011-10-18T15:20:00.000-05:00

In a recent article in the Houston Chronicle, it was reported that Houston experiences 60 burglaries a day! That's one every 30 minutes, 24/7. One major way of entering is by smashing windows.According to the news account: "Chances are, before you finish reading this newspaper, a neighbor's laptop, jewelry or flat-screen TV has been carted away by thugs. Burglaries went up at least 22 percent over the last four years, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of police data, and nearly 22,000 of us were the victims."Burglars are seldom caught.One resident told me that in his Sugar Land area, over 6 houses in a division with 40 houses have been hit recently. Another resident in Friendswood told me the same thing - the bad guys get off the freeway, enter the neighborhood, and hit a house where it appears no one is home.Recently in Sugar Land, burglars scaled a steel gate and throw a propane tank through a bedroom window. Before the homeowners had a chance to call 911 or defend themselves the burglars were on top of them - and terrorized them for some time before leaving with an undisclosed sum. Armor Glass security film would have prevented that breach. It would have given the resident time to call police and/or a weapon to defend themselves.It takes very little effort to break your glass (try it sometime - you'll be shocked how easy it is). Last summer we put our security film on a lady's house. 5 days later someone tried to break-in, and failed. Armor Glass security film kept her from being a victim. Don't wait to become the next statistic...Ask for a Free Quote.

New Low Near Tropical speed in Southern Gulf - Stay Tuned...

2011-10-16T17:13:00.003-05:00

A new low is forming in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico near Cancun. It may be nothing or it might be a "pop up" tropical storm that may or may not become a hurricane. The season is not over until November 30 so keep your eye on the weather news the next few days if you are located on the northern shore of the Gulf of Mexico (or in Mexico)...Click "Follow" or "subscribe" to get updates from the Armor Glass blog...

Got Riot? Protection from break-ins

2011-10-16T07:14:00.001-05:00

The Occupy Wall Street protests have gone global - from Europe to Asia. In Rome, the protests turned violent, breaking windows and burning cars.Several banks had fire damage after protestors broke their windows and tossed burning debris inside. Armor Glass security film would have prevented that damage - by "armoring their glass."Break-ins are a 24/7 threat to homeowners and businesses even when there is not a riot going on. It happens even more in a down economy.Got protection?

A Window breaking Woman....

2011-10-12T22:22:00.001-05:00

YIKES! This guy REALLY could have used Armor Glass Security film protecting his windows from his ex - who broke several of them! There's a better way of getting protection!http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Woman-accused-of-calling-ex-1-001-times-in-3-2215226.php

Possible FL Tropical Storm

2011-10-08T12:04:00.002-05:00

The Weather Channel reports that a tropical storm may form off Florida in the next few days. The entire east coast could be impacted.

Several hurricanes are spinning in the Pacific Ocean as well. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, reports of break-ins continue to grow. Armor Glass security film prevents break-ins and protects homeowners. It takes nothing to break through regular glass.

So "Armor your glass" with Armor Glass security films...protect your property and family.

The Golf Ball Incident - Another AG Save

2011-10-05T11:27:00.003-05:00

Rosemary, a customer who lives on a golf course just called. She said that a golf ball smashed one of the windows we had installed our security film on last year.

She said it "worked as advertised" and that "it kept glass from flying all over the house - there was no breach of the window.

Once she replaces the window (without having to put up a piece of plywood or worry about rain blowing in - if we ever get any more rain), then we put on a new piece of film on the new window and she's good to go again. All she has to pay for is the one piece of film, which is a very small cost.

And if it is covered by insurance then the insurance should also cover the cost of the replacement film since it was a fixture on the glass when it was hit.

I love this product! As she said "this is such a great product!"

1 in 4 Hurricanes Occur in October/November

2011-09-29T13:32:00.002-05:00

Hurricane season does not end until November 30. How much of a threat do they pose this late in the season.

According to these weather experts, one in four hurricanes occur in October and November. So we are not out of the woods yet.

And burglars operate 24/7, 365 days a year - so Armor Glass security film is still providing protection from break-ins from humans once the threat from Mother Nature has diminished (until it flares up again, as it will).

What other product also cuts your energy bill, enough to pay for itself over time?

A Home Invasion Armor Glass Could Have Prevented

2011-09-28T02:29:00.003-05:00

Here is another incident where Armor Glass could have protected people. At a $2 million mansion in Ft. Bend County, armed men jumped over a fence then broke a bedroom window to get in to rob the residents!

Our security film would have prevented entry - giving the residents time to call police.

Isn't it time you had Armor Glass security film installed on your house? It's not just for hurricanes and solar heat...

Breaking Glass to Steal Glasses - Another use for Armor Glass security

2011-09-26T15:48:00.002-05:00

Every day I discover another valuable use for our security films that "armor your glass." Friday I got an email from an eye doctor's office.

It turns out that people are breaking the window glass to steal the eyeglass frames! Since I just got a new pair of glasses recently and they cost over $700 I can "see" why thieves would be targeting these valuable specimens made with high cost metals.

Same for pharmacies, storefronts and anyone with something valuable to steal. Breaking glass to enter a premises is EASY - just a hit or two and they are "in"!

The doc wanted the CLEAR film so people could still see the merchandise displayed inches from the glass wall, but not get to it even with a crowbar beating on it. We bond the film to the frames with a special structural sealant which holds the film to the frame. Without it, the tempered glass would detach from the frame and fall in!

Stay tuned for another chapter in the continuing saga of Armor Glass - protecting people and property like nothing else.

Armor Glass Goes Into Space! (Well...Almost)

2011-09-23T05:58:00.003-05:00

Photo: Michael Fjetland, ready to launch

Well....let's put it this way. The CEO got to sit in a Russian space capsule at NASA (see photo). It's a two-seater without a lot of room. I didn't see a DVD player or TV in there either!

At the NASA event last night, I had the privilege of meeting the highly intelligent and interesting George Abbey Jr., the son of the icon who managed JSC for many years. By the time I left after a couple of glasses of wine, space didn't seem too far away! LOL.

Actually our technology is a product of the space industry - a high tech polycarbonate that saves energy and provides security. If they put a window in space, it will need Armor Glass security film!

New Depressions forming in Atlantic

2011-09-18T11:43:00.002-05:00

The Weather Service says that new depressions are forming in the eastern Atlantic. At least one appears likely to develop.

Another tropical wave is expected to emerge off Africa as well.

Hurricane season isn't over until November 30. Stay tuned and Stay prepared...

Hurricane Update - "Nate" and "Maria"

2011-09-09T07:25:00.001-05:00

There are two systems that pose a Hurricane risk at this time.

"Nate" in the Gulf of Mexico is now predicted by the computer models to move west into Mexico, possibly as a CAT 2 storm.

Meanwhile, Hurricane "Maria" is moving in the Atlantic. It may hit the U.S. east coast or turn out to the Atlantic - it is too early to tell.

Hurricane season does not end until November 30, so stay tuned!

Gunshots in the Night

2011-09-03T08:16:00.003-05:00

This email was in our "inbox" this morning.

"

Guys,

Thought you might like this: woke up to gunfire last night at 2:30am. Threw wife on floor and got kiddo out of crib. Turns out that guy who shot the cop on FM 1960 decided run for it with his 3 friends and had a gun battle through my apartment complex. Two of these scumbags are still at large. Wish I owned the place so I could put armor glass up. I know I’ll do that when I get a house.

Mark"

Holy smokes! Actually no film will stop a bullet, but it would keep glass from spraying shrapnel into your family...

IRENE: Hundreds of Thousands Still Without Power

2011-09-02T08:14:00.001-05:00

Hundreds of thousands of people are STILL without power after IRENE. And they are "mad as hell." We understand.

We went through that after Hurricane IKE hit Houston in 2008 - two days after Lehman Brothers went bankrupt and the financial collapse started. We missed all of it.

It was weird. The rest of the world knew what was going on but none of us without power had a clue. I spent a week without it and that was long enough. Some people had to wait two weeks or more. It gets OLD fast - no TV news, no power for your cell phone, no A/C to cool off.

It was like being marooned on another planet. All we could do was sit around and wait for grocery stores to reopen and gas stations to get power so the pumps would work to get gas. Until then, we had to eat canned food since the freezer food had melted or spoiled.

And just like then, when electric workers came from all kinds of states to help us get powered up, the same is happening in the Northeast.

We are still doing things the "old" way - stringing power lines on poles, next to trees, which fall on the poles in a storm and knock out the juice. Or, in the north, ice gets on the lines, and they break.

In Texas this summer we are going through the worst drought on record. In the process, we discovered that the lack of rain leads to salt build up on the power lines, which causes them to short out! To prevent it, they were spraying water on the lines, sometimes with helicopters, to keep them working.

It's time we got into the 21st Century with our electrical grid. It needs to be put underground where trees and droughts will not knock out electricity. The "cheap" way of doing things is not always the best, or the smartest.

If you don't think so, try going a week or two without power after a storm....

TD 13 - Good News Bad News

2011-09-02T06:28:00.002-05:00

The depression in the Gulf of Mexico, which should become Tropical Storm LEE by Saturday offers Good News and BAD News.

The GOOD News: It may not reach hurricane strength before reaching land, but is expected to hit about 60 mph winds at its peak.

The BAD News: It is predicted to dump 15-20 " of rain in Louisiana and then curve to the NorthEAST, meaning Texas will get NOTHING from this system - no wind or much needed Rain!

Things could change in the next 24 hours. Check back and stay tuned...

70% Chance Gulf disturbance will turn into Hurricane

2011-09-01T07:58:00.000-05:00

There is a 70% chance that the disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico will turn into a hurricane in the next 48 hours, according to weather sources.

If you are a Gulf resident, keep your eye on this during the Labor Day weekend. This is one of those "pop up" storms we get with little advance warning. For those you love to put up plywood, this is your moment of decision.

Armor Glass security film clients won't have to board up, so they are prepared, except for buying food and water.

Stay tuned to this blog for daily updates...

Watch Out for Labor Day Storm on Gulf Coast

2011-08-31T06:53:00.003-05:00

Forget Katia - there is a tropical wave near Cancun that computer models show hitting somewhere on the Gulf Coast around the Labor Day weekend. It could provide just rain, or become a roaring hurricane.

It is not yet fully organized but the Gulf of Mexico waters are extraordinarily hot- nearly 90 degrees - which could ignite the afterburners and rev up a big storm with little advance notice.

Warm waters act like throwing gasoline on a fire when it comes to tropical storms. Hot water can turn a small tropical storm into a killer Hurricane in less than 24 hours. People used to having days notice to "board up" (the outdated way of preparing for a storm) may have less than 24 hours notice before it hits.

Whether or not it will rev up to hurricane strength is unknown. Keep your eyes on this one. It could provide a nasty surprise, or much needed rain, or both.

Fortunately, Armor Glass security film customers are already prepared and won't have to "board up" to be ready. While waiting on the next storm they are also getting solar heat relief and break-in protection.

Stay tuned. It will be a wild few days ahead. Anything is possible...

LEED Building Comparison with/without Armor Glass

2011-08-30T12:52:00.008-05:00

Notice the difference in photos.

The first is a photo of how a LEED building looks after a hurricane -- with Armor Glass security film and attachment installed.

The second is a photo of how a LEED building looks after Hurricane IKE without Armor Glass security film and frame attachment (note the plywood replacing windows which were sucked out during IKE, not even a CAT 2 or above storm).

Notice the difference? The difference is millions of dollars in losses to the building owners and occupants, water damage and months of reconstruction --all could have been avoided using an Energy Star security film from Armor Glass.

Single pane glass, double pane glass and Low E glass: none are breach resistant. Armor Glass security film makes each of them hurricane/tornado/burglar resistant. They also save enough energy to pay for installation.

Armor Glass films are a way to make windows "low E" at a fraction of the cost, while "armoring your glass." Our films are "carbon negative" - it costs less to make them than what they save in energy.

A building loses 40% of its energy through its windows, which are often left unprotected and untouched in most LEED certifications for buildings located in a hurricane or tornado zone.

Armor Glass solar security film generates 1-4 LEED credits. Think of Armor Glass films as LEED Plus!

Which is better - to have a LEED building fighting hurricane force winds with Armor Glass security film, or without?

Ask your insurance company and tenants who lost windows during IKE...

Katia Forms in Atlantic - Target?

2011-08-30T06:13:00.003-05:00

A new tropical storm KATIA has formed in the Atlantic.

It is too early to tell WHERE it will end up as it moves west. Some models say it will curve north and miss the U.S.

Others are suggesting that Texas will get hit by tropical moisture by Thursday/Friday of this week.

Keep in mind that we are approaching our peak time for hurricanes - mid-September. The season won't end until Nov. 30 so we have a long way to go.

Stay tuned! Get prepared! Stay prepared...

ANOTHER HURRICANE could be hitting the U.S. in 10 DAYS!!

2011-08-29T18:11:00.000-05:00

ANOTHER HURRICANE could be hitting the U.S. in 10 DAYS!! Checking details...

It is just getting into our PEAK THREAT window....stay tuned on our Blog at

www.ArmorGlass.com

Don't look now, but Tropical Depresson #12 has formed

2011-08-29T09:35:00.003-05:00

Don't look now, but Tropical Depresson #12 has formed in the Atlantic, right behind T.S. Jose, which is heading north into the Atlantic.

Fortunately, IRENE didn't form an eye wall and caused less damage than IKE (which cost about $25 billion in damages to the Houston area).

It ain't over right folks! September is the PEAK, and it won't end until Nov. 30...

Stay tuned! (And get prepared NOW).

Advice for Those Facing Hurricane IRENE (from an IKE survivor)

2011-08-27T12:49:00.005-05:00

If you are in the path of IRENE, do this NOW:

1) Get away from water. Some people in Bolivar Island near Galveston, TX refused to leave their houses when Hurricane IKE hit Houston in 2008. Their bodies were found in another county, along with huge piles of debris that floated across Trinity Bay. One man was found --alive--hanging in a barbed wire fence in an empty field, miles from his former house.

You are safer if you are not trying to avoid being drowned in high winds. The water will have a lot of floating debris like splintered wood, so it is to be avoided.

2) The weakest link of every building is the glass. The higher you are in a building the higher the winds. A CAT 1 on the ground will be a CAT 2 when you get over 25 floors high (and a CAT 2 becomes a CAT 3). The glass in a Houston Penthouse blew in during IKE. The residents tried to open the door to flee into the hallway -- but the wind pressure was so high they couldn't open the door! Imagine that scenario.

Flying glass from broken windows (or windows that are sucked out as happened to commercial buildings in Houston) will be the biggest threat after rising water. Glass is like shrapnel. A break causes internal air pressure that blows off the roof of houses and opens the building to water damage, mold and MONTHS of rehab. If you don't have armored safety glass or a chance to 'board up' try to cover the windows from the inside until this passes. It's all you can do at this point. After the storm passes, armor your glass!

IKE blew out windows over 50 miles inland. (IKE raised hell and blew out power all the way to OHIO, after hitting Houston in 2008). IKE was just a CAT 1, like IRENE might be when it gets to New York. IRENE is actually much wider than IKE.

If the hurricane "eye" passes over you - it's not over! Several TV crews in NC had that happen to them. They forgot that the winds would hit them again from the OPPOSITE direction. When that happened it knocked down their satellite dishes! Don't get out in it - a flying metal street sign could impale you.

3) Fill your bathtub with water - you'll need it to flush your toilet. Don't plan on drinking it.

4) Get a lot of bottled water. You'll need it for drinking and cooking.

5) Get a camp stove if you don't have a gas stove.

Your freezer will thaw so you'll end up cooking it ASAP (in Houston we had neighbors over for camp stove meals - a lot of people did the same). Then have canned food available because that's all you will get after the freezer meat is eaten or spoils - until restaurants and food stores can reopen. It took about three or four days for many of our grocery stores to reopen. A BBQ grill also comes in handy. Don't expect to have pheasant under glass (no pun intended).

6) If you have a car, get a full tank of gas. Power outages will prevent the pumps from working and you'll soon be out of gas. Even if the stations have gas in their tanks, without a generator they won't be able to run their pumps.

7) Get a solar charger for your cell phone. You probably won't be able to make calls if cell towers are down but texting usually works - the cell systems aren't designed for 100% use which tends to happen in a storm or 9/11 type event.

8) If you have a car charger for your phone you can recharge your cell just by plugging it in (leave the engine off - the big car battery should not run down for the tiny phone battery). If the battery does take low it will recharge when you start the car for an errand).

9) Get ready for a lack of electricity for days or a couple of weeks! Fortunately natural gas lines still worked after IKE so people with gas water heaters could take a HOT shower in the morning, even if the house was DARK and HOT. Just getting a hot shower every morning helps you feel better!

10) It will take a while for power to be restored - trees fell on our lines during IKE so some people never lost power and some were out of power for almost two weeks. It will happen whenever it happens. Nothing you can really do except get a generator - but few will run an entire house. And the noise of gasoline generators will drive your neighbors crazy. After a few days, I wanted to blow up the neighbors noisy generators after a few hot nights trying to sleep. Usually a generator is not big enough to run your air conditioner.

11) Watch out for people offering to "cut your trees off your house" after the storm, especially if they want a deposit. We had a lot of "cowboys" after IKE who showed up with a borrowed chain saw. Our neighbor hired one of them since a giant tree was leaning against his house. The guy cut a piece too big and it created a big hole when it fell through his roof!

12) Watch out for downed power lines. Stay away.

13) Houston's streets looked like "Sherwood Forest" after IKE - totally GREEN from leaves, branches, etc. Amazingly, people came out of their powerless houses, and starting sweeping! In a couple days it was all in neat piles on the side of the road.

Our rebuilding after IKE took over a year. It took a couple months just to get homes cleared of debris, trees off roofs, etc. It cost almost $30 billion in damages. Small businesses like mine (and a lot of people) lost three month's of income before things started to roll again.

Anyone hit by IRENE will face the same problems. Our hearts go out to you.

FORGET PLYWOOD FOR HURRICANE PROTECTION!

2011-08-27T10:08:00.002-05:00

27 August 2011

For Immediate Release

FORGET PLYWOOD FOR HURRICANE PROTECTION!

Upgrade to 21^st Century Technology

Do you still ride a horse to work? Then WHY would use plywood for Hurricane Protection? That’s last century’s technology.

Have you ever tried to lug a heavy plywood board up a ladder to a 2^nd or 3^rd story? It’s a suicide mission. Can you install plywood on a stucco house? No. Does it make sense on a glass building? No. Does plywood offer any solar heat reduction benefits or burglar protection? No.

It’s the 21^st Century. Throw out yesterday’s technology – plywood-- and install hurricane-rated security window film on your glass. It goes on the inside of the glass, so you can put it on your 2^nd floor or on the 20^th floor of a high rise or on 50-story office buildings.

“Project Safe Windows” study of the 2004 Florida hurricanes found that it is windborne debris breaking a window that leads to roofs blown off due to the internal pressure. Window breaks also cause internal damages from water and flying glass, including mold. The study found that security window film made the difference between a house surviving a hurricane or being destroyed by high winds.

Armor Glass® Hurricane-rated security window film can prevent a breach even if the window is broken. It would have prevented the Chase Tower windows from being sucked out by the vacuum caused by Hurricane IKE.

It works 24/7. It saves energy costs enough to pay for itself. And it prevents break-ins by burglars. It can even protect people from an explosion. It costs a fraction of shutters and impact glass. Same film was installed on the federal buildings of DC after 9/11. Generates 1-4 LEED credits. Cuts UV 99%.

See how it works by viewing the 2 minute video on our website at www.ArmorGlass.com

For more info contact us via the website or call 713-213-5080.

###

Historic Hurricanes

2011-08-27T00:06:00.002-05:00

Another good article on "Historic Hurricanes" from the past...

And this one on Hurricane IKE, the last big storm to hit a major city in the U.S...."It took about a year for all the broken windows in the city's skyscrapers to be repaired."

(Those windows would NOT have been blown out had our security film been installed and anchored to the frames)...

What Damage Does WIND Do?

2011-08-26T23:59:00.002-05:00

This is a good article on what WIND can do to a building...

"Trouble really starts at 60 mph, or Level 10 on the 200-year-old Beaufort wind scale, developed by a British admiral to estimate wind speeds before the invention of instruments to measure it. “You can get windows blown out,” Elsner said, and parts of roofs may fly off.

Above 75 mph, the situation is dire. “You can get some full-scale compromises of buildings,” Elsner said.

If buildings break apart, airborne debris becomes a problem. Shingles, glass and nail-riddled wall studs can all start flying around. And the wind will whip even faster through tight areas, such as the tunnel-like alleys between two houses built within spitting distance...."

IRENE Aims Toward Armor Glass New York

2011-08-24T17:03:00.003-05:00

Hurricane IRENE is now a CAT 3, about 120 mph as it roars over the Bahamas.

It is expected to sweep up the East Coast towards New York, the first hurricane they have had in decades. This will be the 10th extreme weather event we have had in 2011 -- or 11th -- from triple vortex tornadoes that took out Joplin and Tuscaloosa, floods, droughts, an earthquake in Washington DC. It's been a very strange year weatherwise (and otherwise).

If so, it will run into a Chase Bank on Long Island that is protected with Armor Glass Hurricane film - the first use of hurricane film on Long Island (so we were told during installation).

The Chase bank has over-sized windows - 10 feet x 13 feet! There is no other way to afford-ably protect such large windows 24/7. Our film also keeps burglars from breaking into the bank and is cutting cancer causing UV by 99%, which also destroys furnishings. Glass provides almost zero UV protection.

Standby for IRENE, about to jeopardize millions of people living with unprotected windows along the east coast.

"Project Safe Windows" study of the 2004 hurricanes that hit Florida that windborne debris breaching glass is what leads to internal pressurization that causes roofs to be blown off, not to mention internal damage from water, mold, and flying glass.

Get prepared now, because you won't have time when another Irene pops up. Hurricane season won't end until November 30.

Here Comes IRENE: More Behind Her...

2011-08-24T08:17:00.001-05:00

Here comes Hurricane IRENE. The east coast of the U.S. are definitely in the strike zone.

Forecasters say that there is a likelihood of a Gulf of Mexico storm by the first week of September.

As you know hurricane season doesn't end until November 30, and mid-September is the peak.

Are you prepared? We are working every day to try to keep up with installation demand..

IRENE CAT 3 Possible by week's end

2011-08-22T11:33:00.002-05:00

Hurricane IRENE is expected to hit Florida or the east coast as a CAT 3 (115 mph winds) by this Thursday.

If you look at the Atlantic satellite, there are more tropical waves coming off the coast of Africa - potential future hurricanes.

The hurricane peak is about mid-September, so we haven't reached the height of hurricane season yet. IRENE breaks the hurricane drought - we haven't been hit for awhile. Last year a blocking high kept them from reaching the U.S. No such protection this year...

Stay tuned!

2011: Ties 2008 --Most Extreme Weather Events

2011-08-22T08:28:00.003-05:00

"With hurricane season still ahead, a record-tying nine $1 billion weather disasters have already racked the nation this year, federal, state and private forecasters reported Wednesday."

"the National Weather Service estimates that weather disasters have cost more than $35 billion this year, based on insurance estimates. Recent flooding in the Midwest along the Missouri and Souris rivers topped the $2 billion damage mark.

"The nation is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather," National Weather Service Director Jack Hayes says. The year has been marked by floods, drought and tornadoes, such as the May twister that killed 160 people in Joplin, Mo. Meanwhile, a Texas heat wave has cost $5.2 billion in crop and livestock losses so far "It doesn't take a wizard to predict that 2011 will go down in history," Hayes says."

Read on. It gets even more hair raising:

"Nationwide, the number of natural disasters has tripled in the last two decades, according to insurance firm Munich Reinsurance America. Thunderstorm losses since 1980 have become five times more severe, on average. There were $20 billion in such losses by midyear in 2011, doubling the average of the past three years."

Are you prepared? Are we prepared as a nation?

Here Comes IRENE

2011-08-21T09:09:00.004-05:00

Here comes Irene! It's too early to tell exactly WHERE it will hit but the U.S. is in its strike zone.

Right now it is a tropical storm, but it is expected to reach at least CAT 1 status before making landfall.

Remember, the peak of Hurricane season is mid-September, so this could be just a warm-up.

Stay tuned.

Protection from Triple Digit Heat - Storms and UV

2011-08-19T08:51:00.002-05:00

This triple digit heat is deadly. We have broken the record set in Texas in 1980.

While people are complaining about the economy our "Green" business is booming. Why?

Because it fits today's need for solar heat relief and security. We can cut 50% to 79% of solar heat, making your space cooler and more comfortable. We can cut 99% of UV that fades your furnishings and causes skin cancer, our No. 1 cancer.

At the same time it will prevent a burglar from breaking in or a storm breaking a window and causes structural failure and internal damages.

If you are trying to sell buggy whips in the 21st century it won't work. It's time to move into 21st century technology/business. Unless businesses and consumers cut costs with energy efficiency, they are throwing money down the drain.

With our security films they not only save money they get security that other technologies don't provide, and at a fraction of the cost.

Our technology actually pays for itself in as little as 3 years or less. We could create millions of green jobs if Congress renewed the energy efficiency tax credits...and save millions of barrels of oil in the process.

Tell your Congressman you want tax credits renewed for making your home or office more energy efficient. It's a win-win for both individuals and our country.

London Riots - Coming to the U.S.?

2011-08-10T07:16:00.004-05:00

Could the London riots come to the U.S.? Gangs of jobless young people have been on a ramage the past three days, smashing glass windows with baseball bats and rocks, and stealing anything they could get.

Could this same problem come to the United States? The London riots were led by young people - 20% of them are unemployed. Huge pockets of "have nots" live near the "Haves" in London. When a man was shot by police, the neighborhoods around London exploded as mobs coordinated looting with their smartphones.

Much of the damage and stealing in London could have been avoided if the shops had installed Armor Glass security film on their glass - the weakest link to any building. Keeping out looters would have prevented thefts and the fires that were started inside. Millions in damages could have been avoided.

Could the London riots come to the U.S. as Congress continues to cut budgets and unemployment and summer heat brings frustrations to the boiling point? Very possible.

Right now, the U.S. unemployment rate is 9.1%. However, the top 1% now control 1/3 of the national wealth. The top 10% control 56% of the national wealth. How long before the bottom 90% explode when all we hear from Washington DC is cut...cut..cut?

How many shop owners here would be as vulnerable as those in London? Almost all of them.

In the meantime, Houston is baking under triple digit heat. The Chronicle's Eric Berger said: "If you liked yesterday's 102 you'll love today's 103!" Our solar security film's could cut that heat in half 0r more, and save you energy costs at the same time...

It's another reason Armor Glass is a miracle technology, serving multiple purposes to protect people and their property.

For RIOTS too...Armor Glass to the rescue.

2011-08-07T16:08:00.002-05:00

Amazing. London has been rocked by violence and burning of stores. Most of those occurred after breaking the glass.

Armor Glass security film could have saved many of these shops by keeping out the vandals. There seems to be an endless market for Armor Glass security film...

Map of Burglaries in Houston - Any "safe" Area?

2011-08-07T15:19:00.003-05:00

Here is a link to a map of burglaries in Houston. Think you are in a "safe" area? I don't see one on this map.

Not shown on this map are the areas in Ft Bend and the Woodlands that have the same problem. It is probably the oldest occupation next to the other oldest occupation (selling sex and stealing other peoples' stuff is not new to the human race).

Last summer we put our security film on a lady's house in Montrose. Five days later someone tried to break in, and failed.

The neat thing is the same film cuts solar heat, making your house cooler, and acts like 'invisible shutters' so you never have to board up for a hurricane. It pays for itself over time. And its "carbon negative." That means that is takes less energy to make it then it saves in its use.

I just spent Saturday putting different film samples in an office with a glass ceiling. The sun coming through the glass made the blistering rooms feel like they were being microwaved.

We put up three films: one Clear, a Stainless that cut nearly 50% of the solar heat and barely change the look of the building, and a Silver reflective one that is perfect for glass ceilings because it cuts a whopping 79% of the solar heat! Think of it as a "White Roof" that reflects back the heat instead of absorbing it. After we put it on, the room felt so COOL despite the sun beating down overhead. All of them cut 99% of UV that causes fading and skin cancer.

It's pretty amazing to have a technology that is not just a "johnny one note." It's more like a "Jack of all Trades" and good at all - cutting energy use, keeping burglars from stealing your stuff, and providing protection to your building's weakest link from hurricanes and tornadoes.

Check out the miracle technology --Armor Glass security window film -- that costs a fraction of the alternatives like shutters and impact glass. Contact us for a free quote anytime at www.ArmorGlass.com...

Remembering Hurricane Celia: Aug. 3, 1970

2011-08-03T18:28:00.002-05:00

Remembering Hurricane Celia: Aug. 3, 1970

Wow, it has been 41 years. I was 9 and remember it well. Our house was destroyed with me, and my family in it. I remember the windows blowing out, then the ceiling coming down on me and my sister. My Dad held a mattress over my Mom, and us kids trying to keep us safe. Then the eye hit. We went outside, and went to the house next door for the 2nd half of the storm. I now think that a tornado from the storm hit our house. I remember how loud and scary it was. We had God looking out for us our we would have not made it out alive.

No power for 3 weeks. Gas pumps were ran with a gas edger you use on your lawn. The heat, mosquito’s, and insulation was always in your skin and no ice. It was tuff, but everyone helped out each other. No one cried for the Government to help me. We all worked hard and rebuilt this city.

Curt
Corpus Christi, Texas
curt@ArmorGlass.com

(Now an Armor Glass Sales Rep)

Woodlands Break-ins: How to Stop?

2011-08-03T16:16:00.004-05:00

It is reported that homes in the Woodlands (north of Houston) have been broken into by a burglar who stole TV's, jewelry, etc. How can you stop that?

Simple. We put our security film on a lady's home last summer. Five (5) days later someone tried to break in, and FAILED. She said he broke the outer pane and managed to make a two-inch hole on the inner pane that had the film attached, but he gave up and went away.

Remember, glass is the weakest link of any building. It takes nothing to break it, and enter. The good thing about our film is that it provides solar heat relief and burglar protection as well as hurricane protection - no more 'boarding up!'

Contact us for a FREE quote to "armor your glass" before its too late...

Emily: Target Florida by this weekend

2011-08-02T15:59:00.000-05:00

"Emily" should hit Florida by this weekend.

Maps show another "tropical wave" right behind it....The Atlantic is mother nature's 'bowling alley' and we are the pins!

Armor Glass - Looking for Sales Reps for a "Green" company

2011-08-02T14:31:00.000-05:00

Armor Glass is looking for Sales Reps to market its energy-saving, hurricane, burglar window film.

This is the same film installed on the federal buildings in DC after 9/11! It saves up to 30% on energy costs - enough to pay for itself over time.

It also eliminates the need to "board up" for a hurricane, protects from tornado debris - and keeps burglars from breaking into your home or office.

Check out our website at www.ArmorGlass.com and watch the 2 minute video that shows how our film works, then contact us.

We install nationally.

Excessive Heat Alert - How to Cut your Power Use and Be Cooler

2011-08-02T09:41:00.003-05:00

Texas utilities are asking people to limit their power use. The triple digit HEAT is causing a massive surge in power consumption, which in the past has led to rolling blackouts.

How can you cut your power use and get COOLER at the same time? We have the solution.

Our solar security film cuts a minimum of 50% of the solar heat getting into your house or building. That means 50% less heat that you air conditioner has to cool. Energy savings can be as much as 30%! Our films can cut up to 79% of solar heat, depending on the film used.

And at the same time, you get protection from break-ins not to mention hurricanes breaching the windows and blowing off your roof. You never have to 'board up' again!

Save energy - enough to pay for itself over time - AND get 24/7 protection. What's their not to love about that?

Check us out and ask for a Free Quote at www.ArmorGlass.com

P.S. "Emily" will be approaching the U.S. coast by this Friday. More tropical waves are behind her.

"Emily" - Next potential hurricane. Florida or Gulf?

2011-08-01T11:29:00.004-05:00

"Emily" has a predicted track that could hit Florida or bring it into the Gulf of Mexico. Or it could go up the east coast.

It has a 90% chance of becoming a hurricane in the next couple days.

Stay tuned and get prepared. There are more tropical waves forming behind "Emily." We are about to get a pounding....

AND, check out this strange tornado in Russia yesterday - since when do tornadoes hit in July?

Atlantic Storm Waves Firing Up

2011-07-31T09:08:00.002-05:00

This photo from NOAA says it all - a series of tropical waves and depressions are spinning off Africa and heading our way. "Emily" could be the first to form into a hurricane, with others right behind it.

Get prepared and stay tuned!

Tropical Storm Don - Target Texas

2011-07-28T06:21:00.004-05:00

Here is our "wake up" call - Tropical Storm "Don" is shooting straight for the Texas coast.

The photo is the projected path as of this hour. It could change in the next day. Hopefully it will not reach full hurricane wind speed.

But it is a reminder that these storms don't give people a lot of time to prepare. What if it were a CAT1 or 3? Do you think you could "board up" in time?

Probably not. That's why it makes more sense to have 24/7 protection that your get from Armor Glass hurricane security film, which also keeps burglars and solar heat at bay in between storms.

Email or Call for a free quote - but don't expect us to install it before "Don" hits this Friday/Saturday (we are already booked!).

To be prepared for a hurricane, you have to "plan ahead" (something they should do in Congress as well!). Get prepared. Be prepared. Or next time you may not be so "lucky."

This is an early start, so worse storms could be possible as we reach the peak of the season in mid-September!

Tropical Storm "DON" Coming Our Way

2011-07-27T16:28:00.002-05:00

Just in - Tropical Storm "Don" may be forming in the Gulf of Mexico and is heading towards Texas!

Standby for updates. Are you prepared?

I will NOT be boarding up! I don't have to because I already have Armor Glass hurricane film on my windows! Do you?

Armor Glass Would Have Saved Lives in Oslo Bombing

2011-07-23T10:23:00.008-05:00

Here is a picture of me in downtown Oslo BEFORE the blast. I took it in May. The other 2 photos are it today...there are worst photos than these.

My deepest condolences to the Norwegian people.

I was in Oslo two months ago on a vacation. Of the 50 or so countries I'd been in, I'd never been to Norway. Yesterday a car bomb blew out glass in the streets where I walked. Had I waited to now to visit the city, I could have been one of the unfortunate victims killed or injured by flying glass shrapnel.

It would have been ironic because our Armor Glass film is rated for a "Level 2" blast and would have prevented a lot of windows from shattering as it deflected the Oslo blast wave and prevented injuries and death. It's the same film installed on the Pentagon and other DC federal buildings after 9/11 - for that reason. Who knows when the next bomber will strike any city in any country. It would do the same in Houston, New York or cities hit by tornadoes or hurricanes. Glass is the weakest link in every building on this planet.

It's deceptive because when I was in Norway I felt perfectly safe walking the streets of Oslo. Downtown Oslo is so small that you can cover most of it in 10 minutes on foot.

It was (at that time) one of the most relaxing places I have ever been. The people were very friendly, relaxed. Since they are taught English in school they switched into excellent English when they heard me speak.

As I walked about I kept looking at their windows, wondering if they had protection but even I didn't see the threat on its streets.

This horrible act shows that terrorism is not just the domain of Islamic extremists. It is also a threat from any extremist, including the American Timothy McVeigh's and Europe's right wing fundamentalist extremists who call themselves "Christians." Neo-Nazism is on the rise, to the point where Germany last week dug up WWII Nazi Rudoph Hess' body and cremated it. Why? Because his grave-site was becoming a "shrine" to a lot of young neo-Nazi's. Intolerance and violence is on the rise from the extremist right in Europe.

A terrorist is a terrorist, whether they look like Osama bin laden or the tall blond white Norwegian bomber with a twisted mind who is part of a growing Neo-Nazi, Nationalist movement in Europe --and just as dangerous, if not more so, than Al Qaida. The killer was Nordic and even wore a police uniform and called people close to him before opening fire. No one would have done that for someone looking like Osama bin laden.

His car bomb was just as deadly as an Al Qaida car bomb. The Nordic terrorist even pretended to be a farmer -- to get the fertilizer used as the bomb material. It has happened before, the first bombing of the World Trade center in 1993, the Murrah building in Oklahoma City in 1994, and worldwide from Mumbai to Islamabad, London, Madrid, the list grows.

If the shops in downtown Oslo and the government buildings had installed a security-rated film like ours the glass would have been contained in the film instead of hurling thousands of deadly shards flying through the air. We bond it to the frames to give the film an anchor to keep it from blowing out of the frames. It would have stopped flying debris up to Large Missile size (4.5 lb). The 2 minute video on our website show what the film does during an explosion - it looks like a bubble as it stretches, with the black bond material holding it to the frame.

But terrorists aren't the only threat. So is killer HEAT, like the bizarre records we are having.

Yesterday Newark NY hit 108 degrees. NYC hit 104. Cities in the Midwest were 103.

The increased temperatures makes our solar security films vital to keep cool and safe from window breach. It even pays for itself in energy savings. It also saved a lady from a burglar trying to break-in to her house 5 days after we put it on...

Armor Glass® security film protection is a necessity as the world gets hotter and more explosive...But the COOL thing about it is that we've seen it pay for itself in under 3 years!

Check us out at www.ArmorGlass.com. Get a free quote.

What's there to lose (other than your property or your life)?

Where are the Hurricanes? Standby for August...

2011-07-16T13:38:00.004-05:00

Impact Weather hurricane experts have done a great short video on "Where are the Hurricanes?"

It shows the activity usually fires up the beginning of August - starting in two weeks! In fact, they have RAISED the number of possible storms by 1 - to 9 with at least 4 expected to be major hurricanes.

Check out their chart - it shows that the season rapidly gets active after August 1. Watch their video at the first link. It's very informative.

Are you prepared? Please don't wait for a storm to call us - it's too late then.

Our Customers Are Out of This World - Godspeed Atlantis

2011-07-09T11:23:00.003-05:00

As Atlantis takes its last flight into space, we pay homage to the special work done by NASA and its astronauts in the past 30 years. Its not over yet!

In fact, some of our Armor Glass® customers are "out of this world." Yep. Many NASA's astronauts in the Houston area have picked Armor Glass® security film to secure their homes from solar heat, hurricanes and burglars.

We have installed it in homes for NASA execs who worked on the International Space Station.

But you don't have to be working in space to get Armor Glass®. We've done the same for architects and businesses --from Coca cola to the University of Houston and Rice University, Goodyear, Chase Bank, clothing stores, pharmacies, hospitals, office buildings, etc. It's a long and growing list.

Why? Perhaps it is because our technology is "out of this world" yet the pricing is "down to earth." Our hurricane protection costs a fraction of what shutters do - ten times less! And shutters don't protect from break ins our cut solar heat and dangerous UV rays like our security film does. And unlike heavy plywood, you only install our protection once, and it works 24/7.

Although NASA has closed a chapter, it opens a new one as space exploration will continue even without the shuttle. Much of American technology, including ours, was developed from the science that came out of the space research done by NASA and others.

We look forward to supporting NASA and our "out of this world" customers as they conquer new worlds -- and the solar heat and flying debris from hurricanes and tornadoes of this one -- as this continuing saga moves on to new ventures and opportunities.

Godspeed Atlantis!

30 Year Storm on Saturn

2011-07-06T20:08:00.002-05:00

Absolutely FASCINATING - think they might need some Armor Glass (PLUS) protection on Saturn?

"The luminous storm, which may be the gaseous planet's main mechanism for dissipating heat, occurs about once every Saturnian year, the equivalent of about 30 Earth years. The storms, however, do not follow a precise schedule. The latest round, the most intense on record, was first noticed by ground-based professional and amateur astronomers as a bright speck on Saturn's northern hemisphere on Dec. 5, about nine years before schedule. The previous storm occurred in 1990."

"Great White Spots are 10 times larger than normal storms on Saturn and are about 10,000 times stronger than those on Earth. They occur seasonally due to changes in how much sunlight reaches Saturn. Scientists still don't fully understand the interplay between solar energy and Saturn's internal stores in generating these storms."

Hurricanes Heat Up in July - Past Trends

2011-07-05T21:27:00.002-05:00

I've linked a great article on hurricane development. Usually they are kicking in by the end of July.

"Since 1950, there have been only five major July hurricanes. That said, three of those major July hurricanes have occurred in the last six seasons."

"The season's first hurricane usually has formed by August 10, but again, in the past 3 years, has formed as soon as the end of June or as late as mid-August."

But don't forget, we'll already had a Tropical Storm "Arlene" form in the Gulf of Mexico - battering Mexico with 15 inches of rain.

"An area that "emerges", if you will, in July is near the Windward Islands, as tropical waves originating in Africa may begin to develop, in earnest.

"The tropical waves coming off of western Africa every 2-4 days are a little better defined than in June, says TWC Hurricane Expert, Dr. Rick Knabb. "That's one reason why we start to look farther east for development in July."

Midwest Gets 100 mph Winds - Hail

2011-07-02T11:06:00.002-05:00

The storms whipping the Midwest produced hurricane-force winds up to 100 miles per hour! Not to mention "large hail" which knocks out windows, and tornadoes.

It's obvious that Armor Glass security window film protection is needed to safeguard homes across the U.S., not just in coastal areas.

"The severe weather hit hardest in Illinois, southeastern Wisconsin up into northern Indiana and southern Michigan, according to AccuWeather.com."

"Residents in Tennessee also felt the wrath of severe weather as thunderstorms and high winds rolled across the region on Tuesday striking most intensely in Knoxville.

Thousands remained without power in that east Tennessee city on Wednesday.

Further south in Dallas more than 22,000 customers were without power after storms shattered a rain record set in 1926, the Dallas Morning News reported.

The severe weather is set to continue as high temperatures are expected to reach triple digits in Dallas and other areas of Texas and nearby states in the coming days.

Areas in Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Louisiana, Vermont and New York remain at risk from flooding, and thunderstorms, hail, and strong wind are forecasted across the country, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency."

Armor Glass “Rap” Song…

2011-07-02T08:01:00.003-05:00

OK, it's been a HOT summer even before summer and its making everyone crazy so I thought I'd join in. I figured we needed some comic relief.

I'm no rapper and certainly no threat to Jay Z or anyone else (I can't even sing without scaring people), but here goes my attempt at rap.

Armor Glass “Rap” Song…

When da big winds start blowing

and breakin’ the neighbors glass

And you wonder ‘bout protecting your ass

Momma says you got no need to worry

You got that Armor Glass!

When da bad boys are coming down the street

Breaking windows in the heat

They got to be mad they couldn’t get through yours

Armor Glass Just Can’t Be Beat!

And if your head’s frying in the sun

From the solar blast

Just Cool it with Armor Glass!

So when storms are raging, wiping fast,

no need to worry about broken GLASS!

You got protection with Armor Glass!”

The "End"

Don't worry. I'm not about to give up my "day" job to go into rap/songwriting! lol

Corpus to Brownsville See Angry Edge of Arlene While East TX Bakes at 99

2011-06-30T17:33:00.004-05:00

The weather is beginning to remind me of those hokey disaster movies, but for real. Protecting our buildings is becoming a priority to deal with it.

We've had triple vortex tornadoes running wild in places where they are rare, more than double the usual number of these killers in a season.

We have one of the longest Droughts on record, baking places like (formerly wet) Houston, while the Midwest suffers the worst flooding in recorded history from big rivers Missouri and Mississippi. Isn't it strange to have ALL of them happening at the same time?

Because warmer air means the molecules can hold more moisture, some snow caps are three to seven times larger than normal. More snow to melt leads to record flooding in the big rivers when the heat melts it. 500 year floods could become a regular event, even annual! But that snow doesn't do a thing to dent a spreading drought in the southwest.

Nor does it impact hurricanes, which are posing a greater threat as the waters that fuel them get warmer. Hurricanes are earth's mechanism to cast off excess summer heat from its equator to the cooler poles. The warmer the earth, the greater the fuel, the bigger the storms. Adding heat to the ocean waters is like throwing gas on fire for these State-sized tornadoes. The hotter air generates more energy, more energy that has to be spun off by the hurricanes whirlpools of screaming winds. CAT 3 and 4 storms could become "normal." Compare that to Houston's IKE, which was a CAT 1.

Houston was 99 and dry as a bone today. Houstonians couldn't see what Corpus saw this morning - the dark edge of Tropical Storm Arlene which is whipping Mexico with 15 inches of rain. If they could have seen it, it would have been a reminder not to delay in armoring their shelter from strong winds yet to come. Hurricanes are an annual threat for half of the year, every year. Coastal resident cannot afford to be complacent or assume nothing will happen.

The Atlantic from where most U.S. storms come from is 2 degrees warmer than normal. That may not sound like much, but 2 degrees is jet fuel to a hurricane. The warmer the water, the greater the energy feeding the tropical depressions that form over the ocean before they become a Katrina or a Rita, or another threat to our castles.

2011 video is evidence of a record number of multiple vortex, mile-wide tornadoes that stayed on the ground for up to hundreds of miles. If tornado season is that bad, what's hurricane season going to be like?

And we haven't even gotten to the dangerous part yet.

Hurricanes (and tornadoes) will blow down the houses of today's little piggies (and humans) that don't have protection on their weakest link - their windows. The"Project Safe Windows" study of the 2004 four hurricanes that hit Florida showed that it is window breach caused by wind-borne debris that led to structural failure, not to mention internal damages from water, etc.

The choices are limited. )nly one solution makes economic sense.

The choices are either

(1) super expensive shutters (that wont cut UV or save energy or stop a burglar in the up position) or

(2) heavy, expensive impact glass that looks like a coke bottle, requires special frames and can't be made very big, OR

(3) a high tech security film that keeps hurricane winds and burglars from breaking in, prevents water and wind intrusion so you don't have months of mold and water issues to deal with, and pays for itself by cutting solar heat, and protects you from the fading and skin cancer caused by UV rays. That's the Armor Glass security film solution.

With Armor Glass protection you never have to "board up" again!

How COOL is that? (Unless of course, you LIKE the idea of trying to bench press 100 lb. large boards up a ladder to a second story window in a high wind! We'll look for you in the next county!)

Or the hospital..! No, don't go there. Protect your class act with Armor Glass.

Stay tuned.

Growing Costs of Extreme Weather

2011-06-28T16:00:00.002-05:00

A study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research estimates that the bottom-line cost of all the meteorological craziness is a staggering $485 billion per year in the U.S. alone, as much as 3.4% of the country's GDP.

"It's clear that our economy isn't weatherproof," Jeffrey Lazo, the study's lead author, said in a statement. "Even routine changes in the weather can add up to substantial impacts on the U.S. economy."

Which is a good reason for business owners and homeowners to "Armor Their Glass" the weakest link of buildings. Hurricane IKE, for example, caused billions in damages from bother rising water and window breaks - the Chase Tower sustained over $5 million in damages when windows were sucked out of their frames by the vortex winds created by IKE. Armor Glass film with frame attachment would have kept those windows in place, even if they were broken.

90% chance of first Tropical Storm next 48 hours

2011-06-28T15:06:00.002-05:00

Weather experts at NOAA say that there is a 90% chance that the tropical wave will become a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico within the next 48 hours. Most likely target: Eastern Mexico, unless it makes a turn to the north.

Stay tuned during the 4th of July weekend...

Tropical Wave - Near Cancun, Mexico

2011-06-27T10:34:00.002-05:00

Tropical wave forms in Bay of Campeche. May or may not strengthen into Tropical storm...

"A broad area of low pressure over the Bay of Campeche associated with a tropical wave is producing disorganized cloudiness and showers. Upper-level winds are currently not conducive for development, however these winds are forecast to become more favorable over the next couple of days."

Details at the link...

In the Clouds Watching Spinning Wheels...

2011-06-21T19:07:00.002-05:00

Today I found myself in the clouds, watching spinning wheels. On the top of a Houston skysraper we went through a maze, a prestigious law office, ladders, a steel door - and the top cooling tower machines that keep a modern building alive in the 21st century.

And there were no windows, just the rush of air flowing by, at the very top.

It was a scene from another planet, but it was all too real in downtown Houston. If these machines malfunction, the building dies.

The scene was so fascinating. Alice in Wonderland is not much better. One small ladder led to a wood door, which led to another small wood door, one after another. And in each room, above us a giant spinning wheel spun furiously, rushing the wind past us. Below us, shallow water swirled. When I looked up, the sky was spitting water on us, like an errant sprinkler, as we got our first kiss of rain in months from fickle skies. I wondered what a full thunderstorm would feel, pounding the place where I was standing, next to giant machines doing mysterious things.

That was what I did today. It was fascinating, even when it required climbing ladders straight up into the next level of Alice in Wonderland...

Life just keeps getting more interesting. Never would I thought I'd spend a day in the clouds, watching spinning wheels keep thousands of people below comfortable in their artificial world...

Architects in Texas Still Lagging on Technology Florida Knows Well

2011-06-20T08:51:00.004-05:00

Last week I gave a presentation to AIA architects in Houston. At the beginning I asked the group of about 25 people "How many know about 'security window film'?" About four hands went up.

That's a pretty low percentage. It is only slightly better then the one person who raised his hand when I asked the same question during a similar presentation to AIA members a year or so ago.

When I bought my Clear Lake condo in January of this year, the real estate agent I worked with was originally from Florida. When he saw my car signs he started telling ME about security window film!

Very interesting - real estate agents from Florida are more familiar with the latest Hurricane protection technology then Texas architects. How can that be?

If the architects don't know then how can a client building a building know how to protect it?

However, how can they know if no one informs them? The editors at Texas Architect magazine in Austin have shown no interest in publishing an article we submitted, explaining what security window film is. This is despite the fact my co-author works for NASA and went into detail on the engineering aspects of it. The article wasn't about our company; it was about the technology and how it pays for itself in energy savings while protecting people and property from window breaks caused by wind-borne debris, burglars and explosions.

Impact glass is too expensive for most projects and its impossible to design impact windows in large panes. We are building glass palaces in a hurricane zone with ZERO protection from window blow outs. Heavy plywood is not an option, nor are expensive shutters on glass towers.

The windows of Chase Tower, for example, were SUCKED OUT by Hurricane IKE, costing millions in damages. Our Armor Glass security film, with frame bonding, would have kept all of them in place, even if broken! That is, it would have saved countless offices from being destroyed by the hurricane, along with the destruction of the surrounding buildings caused by the flying glass shrapnel.

I will say this. At least this year they seemed to be listening.

We are in the high tech 21st century. If we aren't technology leaders then we are in serious trouble if we expect to compete with the rest of the world. Security window film has been on the federal buildings in Washington DC for a decade now! It was first used in the 70's in Northern Ireland when the IRA was setting off car bombs that blew out windows.

I'd like to see more curiosity by our professionals to stay on the cutting edge of technology. By doing so, we could save billions in future storm losses, simply by incorporating technology like ours in existing and new buildings...

Second Pacific Hurricane Spinning

2011-06-20T08:37:00.003-05:00

It's early in the Hurricane season and the eastern Pacific off Mexico has already produced two storms - Beatriz is pounding Acapulco so don't plan a trip there this week!

And there are signs that the Atlantic is starting to get active. Are you prepared?

With record high temperatures and the thought of lugging heavy plywood in the heat, think about a more civilized alternative - a hurricane film that also cuts the HEAT!

Contact us for a free quote today - BEFORE the next hurricane fires up. It's a LONG way before the season ends November 30...

Vancouver Riots - Stopping Breakin's

2011-06-19T16:11:00.003-05:00

Too bad the businesses in Vancouver did not have Armor Glass security film on their store fronts - it would have kept the rioters from breaking in and carrying off inventory.

We recently installed it on a major pharmacy that had a break in - in 3 minutes the thieves walked out with thousands of dollars of narcotics. Glass walls are no barrier to theft. But they are if you "armor" them with Armor Glass security film...

Armor Glass Officially Trademarked! Yes!

2011-06-17T09:54:00.002-05:00

It's OFFICIAL. Armor Glass® is now officially registered as a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. I highly recommend Wendy Buskop's law office (www.buskoplaw.com) which helped make it happen.

“ARMOR GLASS is a U.S. registered trademark of Armor Glass International, Inc.”

YES!

How Do You Get Relief from HOT HOT HOT ?

2011-06-13T09:19:00.001-05:00

The temperature forecast for Houston this week is: NO rain, and highs of 99, 99, 98, 99 etc. See a pattern?

So HOW do you get both hurricane and burglar protection AND solar HEAT relief? With Armor Glass security film. Check out this 30 second video...

How to Get a $85 electric bill

2011-06-12T07:35:00.003-05:00

My last month's electric bill: $85.07! It came after we had at least four days of 104, 105 degree temperatures!

I attribute it to "Green" technology - a WHITE roof that was installed after Hurricane IKE, AND energy-saving Armor Glass hurricane film I had installed on the condo windows...(The film cuts 50% of the solar heat from getting inside the unit, and also cuts 99% of UV that causes fading and skin cancer).

Go Green and save with Armor Glass security film! And get protection from hurricanes, tornadoes and burglars at the same time...

Hardening Your Space in a More Dangerous World

2011-06-10T14:30:00.001-05:00

WHAT causes a house to explode in a hurricane or tornado? What technologies are available to protect occupants of buildings facing the ultimate threats from Mother Nature’s relentless attacks to burglars and intensifying solar heat 365 days/year?

The latest Hurricane reports are for an “above average” season for hurricanes threating the nearly 54% of our population who live near the coasts. By 2025 two thirds of the world’s population will live within 100 miles of a coast. This comes as we have an abnormal DOUBLING of deadly tornadoes in the U.S. The AP reports that the conditions this season are similar to 2005 – which produced Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, storms that Gulf Coast resident still remember and fear.

The week’s Global American radio program explores these questions and provides some answers. HOW do we armor our spaces (houses and work) from these increasingly dangerous threats? What does each technology achieve versus its cost? What technology has been overlooked that could save property and lives?

We have been witnessing some of the most dangerous, weird weather not just in the U.S. but worldwide -- breaking decade’s old, and historic, records globally. From freak Tornado monsters a mile wide with multiple vortexes staying on the ground for hundreds of miles, turning cities like Tuscaloosa and Joplin into matchwood while sucking debris 18,000 feet into the air and dropping it over 60 miles away.

We have seen unprecedented freak tornadoes appearing in Massachusetts – fierce hurricanes and droughts worldwide, sweeping from Australia in the southern hemisphere to Russia in the north. The first four days of June Houston had record 104 and 105 degree temperatures. This week Minneapolis hit 103 (how close to Canada can you get?) and New York 99 degrees – August weather -- and it is not even summer yet!

Are people prepared for the bigger storms generated by the greater heat of an Atlantic ocean that is 2 degrees hotter, which produces larger storms? Is your personal space secure from the increasingly freak storms of greater intensity? Or from human intrusion?

Get the facts, and solutions, on this timely, unique program. Even FEMA has benefited from --and funds -- hazard mitigation technology that it fails to mention it in its preparedness reports!

Will global warming, regardless of the debate of whether it is “normal or manmade,” make today’s freakishly hot and violent weather the “norm” we have to prepare for?

For details and answers, tune into the Global American radio program on Saturday at 9 am central US time on Business 1110 AM, streamed on www.Business1110KTEK.com and Podcast 24/7 on www.GlobalAmerican.org (click on ‘favorite program’ and click the title above).

Michael Fjetland

Global American Series

Opt in/out (your call)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GlobalAmerican/

Comments welcome at our mirror site/blog:

http://globalamericanvalues.blogspot.com/