Jasco Blog

Deck the halls with boughs of holly...and mistletoe, wreaths, garlands, candles, stars, tinsel, dancing Santas, plastic reindeer, and lights, lights and more lights!

The winter holiday season is a popular time to dress up the home and yard with fun and festive decorations. And nothing says "Christmas" like a beautifully decorated home.

However, for every giggle or gasp of awe that comes with a well-decorated house, there's also additional costs and responsibilities. For one, many holiday decorations require electricity and that can put an increased burden on your electrical bill. There's also the possibility that your neighbors might not appreciate your holiday light show as much as you do. Before you deploy your decorations, consider these energy-saving and conflict prevention tips.

A recent announcement by Nielsen shows just how much has changed in home entertainment in recent years. The consumer research company is planning to overhaul its metrics to better measure viewership across platforms. Though Nielsen's existing criteria are only 9 years old, a lot has changed during that time.

When Nielsen rolled out its current metrics in 2006, iPhones, tablets and connected streaming devices like Roku did not exist. Networks were beginning to offer some streaming content on their websites, but Hulu was still a year away from launching and Netflix only offered its snail mail DVD option.

Christmas Gifts for Everyone On Your List

You’ve made your list and checked it twice, now it’s time to start on your shopping! Not sure where, or how, to begin? Whether you're looking for gifts for a DIY-er, TV lover or the techie in your life, let us help you with some gift inspiration. We’ve designed a simple, easy-to-use Holiday Gift Guide that will help you find the perfect present for everyone on your list.

Families and friends everywhere are gearing up for the start of the holiday season. In addition, retail stores and online dealers are stocking up and preparing for the upcoming - and hectic - shopping season.

Whether you're a homeowner or renter, there are numerous ways to prepare for these next few months. Hosting weekend parties or weekday get-togethers can be spontaneous or thoroughly planned, but either way, there are some important items you'll need to host a successful gathering.

As a smartphone owner, you likely keep close watch of your device's battery percentage. Nothing is worse than having to worry about whether you can take a breathtaking photograph, or continue to play music throughout your house using Bluetooth and an audio receiver.

There are a few factors that determine how often you have to charge the phone. These can range from patterns of usage and age of the hardware to the applications used on the device. Luckily, there are a few workarounds and fixes you can take to ensure your phone lasts a majority of the day.

While the kids are back in the classroom, parents should utilize the time to start and finish one fall home improvement project before the craziness of the holidays officially takes over. You don't have to hire contractors for a large scale project, such as building an addition. Instead, you may find it beneficial to install some projects to boost up your home's comfort and relaxation levels. Take advantage of the weather before it gets too cold, especially if you've been wanting to make some upgrades to your outdoor patio.

In today’s world your cubicle isn’t only a place that you work, it’s where you spend 90 percent of your day. Your cubicle is a 3 walled, tiny, gray home for most workers. Spending all day tackling to-dos, answering emails, and making calls can get tiring when you are in an uncreative environment.

Making your cubicle feel more comfortable and homey can boost productivity. With these easy tips to upgrade your cubicle, you can transform into a productive, creative and comfortable place to spend your day.

In a previous DIY post we walked you through the steps for building your own bottle lamp (see here if you missed the How-to post). If you’re ready to take your lamp to the next level – keep reading! It is so easy to turn ANY lamp into a smart lamp with GE branded Bluetooth Smart Controls. With no wires or bulbs to change, there’s no reason not to do it. Now, if you are worried because when you hear Smart you think of confusing terms like networks and hubs and gateways – don’t worry! This doesn’t require any of that. This is super easy.

As we enter into autumn and winter, we face shorter days, longer nights and the end of daylight saving time. Coming home from work or dinner with friends, we're often dealing with decreased visibility and a greater risk of accidents. This could make for a minor inconvenience like knocking over your favorite lamp or a greater danger, such as failing to notice an intruder.

Automating household lighting adds security and comfort in the darker months and can keep you, your family and your favorite items safer. Here's a few simple ways to prepare your home for fall.

Halloween is a night known for treats but also tricks. While the holiday is associated with costumes, scary movies, jack-o'-lanterns and sweet treats, it's also a night known for mischief ranging from vandalism to robbery. 

While fright is a part of the Halloween tradition, fear of crime doesn't need to be. Taking smart precautions and installing home electrical security features can help protect you and your family from Halloween mayhem.