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lucar
Board Royalty
Joined: July 05, 2004
Posts: 6265
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Oct 27, 2004 - 04:38 AM |
 
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| Post subject: For The Architects and Designers... |
Stranger moves in, redecorates while woman's on vacation
Saturday, October 23, 2004 Posted: 0045 GMT (0845 HKT)
DOUGLASVILLE, Georgia (AP) -- A woman came home from vacation to find a stranger living there, wearing her clothes, changing utilities into her name and even ripping out carpet and repainting a room she didn't like, authorities said.
Douglas County authorities say they can't explain why Beverly Valentine, 54, broke into an empty home and started acting like it was her own.
During the 21/2 weeks the owner, Beverly Mitchell, was on vacation in Greece, Valentine allegedly redecorated the ranch home, ripping up carpet and taking down the owner's pictures and replacing them with her own.
Mitchell was a complete unknown to Valentine, said Chief Sheriff's Deputy Stan Copeland. He said he had no idea how Valentine knew Mitchell was gone.
"In 28 years, I've never seen something this strange," Copeland said.
Valentine was being held in Douglas County Jail on a $25,000 bond, Copeland said. If convicted, she could face one to 20 years in prison. Copeland said Friday that he believed Valentine did not have a lawyer.
The case came to light when Mitchell, who lived alone, returned home October 4 to find the lights on and a strange car parked in the driveway. Mitchell called police, who went in and found Valentine, who at first pretended she was renting the home.
Later, Copeland said, she admitted she broke into the house with a shovel and was squatting there. She was charged with burglary.
Authorities found a gun and $23,000 worth of Mitchell's jewelry in Valentine's car.
Valentine had the electricity switched over to her name and moved in a washer and dryer and her dog.
Copeland said she was even wearing some of Mitchell's clothes.
"There's a lot of people saying, 'What?"' Copeland said.
Valentine was asked what to do with the washer and dryer she moved in, and Valentine said she didn't care, so police will leave it up to Mitchell what to do with them, Copeland said.
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/US/10/22/stranger.in.house.ap/index.html |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31098
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Oct 27, 2004 - 09:49 AM |
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Why do all these types of stories come out of the south? |
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BOYCOTT BENSON SALON |
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Monk
Raver
Joined: May 03, 2004
Posts: 440
Status: Offline
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Oct 27, 2004 - 10:03 AM |
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Cause y'all're special. |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31098
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Oct 27, 2004 - 10:16 AM |
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_________________
BOYCOTT BENSON SALON |
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smurfette
PopStar
Joined: Nov 07, 2003
Posts: 1287
Location: smurf village
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Oct 28, 2004 - 01:52 AM |
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What to do with Architects and Designers?
They should design and built smart houses *knowing* their owners?
Or they should invent houses that are multi-user-friendly?
I think it would one of the most greatest inventions in history that more than one persons living under the same roof without awareness of the existance of anyone else but themselves. |
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statistically significant |
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SwedishChef
Low Seater
Joined: Aug 19, 2004
Posts: 3028
Location: Køokin' der yummee-yummer
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Oct 28, 2004 - 10:14 AM |
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| smurfette wrote: |
| I think it would one of the most greatest inventions in history that more than one persons living under the same roof without awareness of the existance of anyone else but themselves. |
Interesting concept...have to give my friend Bill Gates a call to see if we can sort something out... |
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Caesara
Post Roaster
Joined: July 31, 2004
Posts: 4572
Location: The Middle Kingdom (Shanghai)
Status: Offline
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Oct 29, 2004 - 09:52 AM |
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It's all about money.
I know that home systems can be installed to sense movement and temperature differences in a room that tells them there's a person there. The sensors can be mounted at different heights and sensitivities to discern between people and pets.
The house can then turn on lights and/or music and/or fireplaces according to programming. It can increase the heating or sir conditioning in the room, and if applicable, can start the warming system for the floor or change the Gates-style "artwork" on the flatscreen-hung walls according to whichever person its analysis tells it is present at the time.
The kitchen appliances can talk to the owner and receive simple orders. The electronic pets and mechanical butlers/floor cleaners can be directed out of the owner's way. The computer can be voice-activated, or put on the same central system that turns on the lights, so that as the owner approaches, the morning news and all their email is ready for perusal. The doors are automatically locked (since the instruction the previous night) and the sophisticated alarm system remains on until the owner steps out and the sensors use biometric data (or a finger/handprint) to leave and lock it behind him.
So what's the criteria for a house "knowing" its owner? A house like that, though undoubtedly impressive, might freak the crap out of me occasionally. |
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